Two, you'll have a much easier time obtaining a mortgage product if you have a track record of W2 income.In the meantime, continue implementing the strategies you mentioned: save religiously, build your credit, pay any existing debt owed, etc.

Reflecting on the last 20+ yrs, when we could cash flow immediately with low cost sfr, had we gone with the higher priced properties and significantly lower cash flow, more debt, we could not have achieved IRRs even close to what the lower end product has delivered, nor paid off the investments. 

Quote from @Andrew Steffens: I am curious what products exist?

Most rental properties in Milwaukee are old and run down, our product stands out. 

Wouldn't hurt to look in to both to give yourself the best chance at finding the best loan product. 

Same experiences as above....great product with very helpful customer service and they always seem to be adding new features.

If you'd like our "Keep or Sell" spreadsheet, email me at [email protected], but I think that you'll have to be very aggressive with your assumptions around rent growth and price appreciation in order to justify keeping this property. 

However, if you intend to work with a hard money lender or utilize a short-term loan product, you're on the clock for repayment, which can be stressful if things go sideways. 

If a person benefits from a product they sell it’s only natural if they promote what is perceived as a benefit even if the quoted benefits are not automatic or even a given. 

@Sang Kim- thanks for clarifying you are trying to get a commercial loan ...this is a  completely different product than a home loan ...You still should be able to  locate and obtain a good commercial loan  without  having to pay any fees upfront  ( other than possibly paying for the appraisal after the  loan has been  approved )