I just wanna make sure, the 10+ years lock-in period is making me a bit anxious.  

None of us are as smart as we think we are when an investment goes right.Lastly, I'll borrow a thought from Morgan Housel - don't seek the investments with the best returns; seek the investments that will allow me to make an average return for the longest period of time.

Rents have softened, though, and currently experiencing an extended vacancy in one.The advice you're hearing here is sound. 

This resource covers FEDERAL fair housing law, but I think some states (especially tenant friendly ones) may extend protections further and may even eliminate some of the exemptions.

They always make sure to have line(s) of credit to get them through challenging periods.

His bank was in a state like Indiana, while one of his companies is in Wyoming, and just all sorts of weird sketchy stuff that accumulated over the period working with him.

Run the calculations on the expense of doing a refi at a slightly reduced rate vs. keeping the current loan for whatever period of time you think you will hold this house.

Those things can and will hurt your monthly KPIs occasionally and sometimes for long periods. 

Period, full-stop, no exceptions. 

Quote from @Melody Bohannon: Prior to my investment, I asked my advisor, Mark Zabilowicz,  multiple times about the holding period and was consistently assured that I could request the return after six months.