You also implied that we don't specifically price deals for our clients and the client's "rates and fees will be much higher".

For all methods you would want to find a market that has strong employment rates, strong income rates for the market, and is a growing or an established market. 

Yes their rates are steep, but that's hard $$$ for you.

Check their occupancy, nightly rate and amenities.

In this case, you can use Rental Income from the units that you will not be living in and that income can count to help you qualify.FHA rates are going to be lower than conventional for you almost always, but FHA does have a 1.75% funding fee. 

The drop and Swap is about all we use here due to the confiscatory tax rates based on sale price.

2. don't use an appreciation rate.

It's important to know what market rents are for what you are analyzing, many properties are super under rented and you have to get them to market rates. 

I have other assets in Canada but I looking at bringing everything here when the exchange rate is better.

Also the hit rate per property is really low.