Scaling up doesn’t always require 20% down—house hacking (FHA or 5% conventional), DSCR loans, seller financing, and the BRRRR method can help you acquire more properties with less cash upfront.

For your mortgage, a 30-year loan will give you lower monthly payments, which could be ideal while starting out.

The area has seen growth in both the residential and rental markets, making it a potentially lucrative investment.For financing, you can explore options like conventional loans, FHA loans (for owner-occupied properties), or even local programs that might offer lower down payments for investment properties.

(You said you plan to buy it for the amount of the loan, not the value of the property.).

Too large to be a normal convention loan, but not big enough to be tasty for an investor that wants some size.

Quote from @Jaycee Greene: I completely understand and I'm sure my fingers are a lot fatter than mine ;-) If you only borrowed $155k, I assume you did a conventional bank or credit union DSCR loan, is that right? 

If you can beat the ROI you're getting on the SFR, then do it.Otherwise, why can't you buy a 2-4 unit with a 3% down FHA loan?

Financing Strategies – I’d like to put 15%–20% down—what’s the best way to secure a loan with manageable terms?

Higher interest rates on conventional loans may result, as the government backing currently helps keep rates low.

Debt Protection: If you have mortgages or private loans, a life insurance policy can protect your family or business partners by covering outstanding debts in the event of an unexpected passing.4.