I'm kind of conservative for this crowd but there may be value in taking the time to save up a down payment if a HELOC won't give you enough and you can't find creative financing on a multifamily. 

Even in high-cost markets, creative financing or partnering with experienced investors could help you get in the game.

2.The best way to obtain the necessary permits and ensure compliance moving forward?

Took about half a year to learn how to walk, talk and even eat again, but bounced back to my love for real estate investing and the two things that transitioned me from just wholesaling to actually buying deals as an investor was creative finance and private money.Bought my first rental property in Easley, S.C. owner finance and one of my best rentals I still own today was bought subject-to! 

Rent payments from the medical LLC are fully deductible as a business expense, while the property-owning LLC will report the rent as taxable income, which can be offset by deductions for expenses like mortgage interest, property taxes, maintenance, and depreciation.To ensure compliance, document how FMV was determined—using market comparisons, an appraisal, or similar data—and draft a formal lease agreement outlining the terms, rent amount, and responsibilities.

Additionally, ATCP 134.05 says that if the tenant provides a consumer credit report from an agency that compiles and maintains files on consumers on a nationwide basis and it is less than 30 days old, the landlord may still run a credit check but at its own expense.When I inquired with the company, they replied: "These laws are in place to ensure that you, as a landlord, are not profiting by incentivizing multiple applicants to apply when you have no intent to rent to them.

I had been discussing this property with the owner for a while and saw its potential—distressed but with strong fundamentals and built-in equity.The deal was a great opportunity to apply creative financing, secure a property with minimal upfront capital, and build long-term cash flow.

That was an excellent non-answer to my question, Skyler. hihi :)No they are not all the same. some are only interested in dealing with conventional purchases other are as you say better at handling assignments or double closes, some are commercial specialty, etc....A investor friendly one would be, at least from my point of view, one that understands there may need to be some last minute wheeling, dealing, and adjustment made to close a deal, understand what needs to be done and do not freak out about creative deals.Maybe my understanding or thoughts are wrong but that's what I meant by investor friendlyregards :) 

Key Factors for a Good Seller-Financed DealCash Flow: Rental income should exceed monthly payments (PITI) by at least 1.25–1.5x.Purchase Price: Compare to ARV and market value for fair pricing and equity potential.Interest Rate: Aim for competitive rates; higher rates must still allow positive cash flow.Amortization/Balloon Terms: Favor longer amortization and align balloon payments with your exit strategy.Down Payment: Lower upfront costs reduce risk but should meet the seller's expectations.Flexibility: Seek no prepayment penalties and fair late-payment clauses.Property Condition: Ensure the property’s condition matches terms through inspections.Seller Motivation: Assess the seller’s willingness to negotiate favorable terms.Exit Strategy: Have a clear plan for refinancing or payoff at term end.Portfolio Fit: Ensure the deal aligns with your financial goals and risk tolerance.Vetting multiple deals and consulting professionals is crucial to making sound decisions.

To overcome these, investors should focus on smaller properties, value-add opportunities, expand into secondary markets, leverage creative financing, partner for scale, monitor development trends, network aggressively, and use market data tools for tailored advice.