Start with durable, high-quality basics: plush towels, soft linens, and a fully stocked kitchen with sharp knives, pans, and essentials like oil and spices.

Down payment should be about the same (20% on a buy-and-hold) but you'll see an additional $3-$6k on average in CC and the ability to keep it off of your DTI/Personal credit along with hopefully no more hard inquiries on your credit (many lenders will accept/perform a soft pull).

Several banks offer soft inquiry options, I'd try those out prior to risking the HP.

We have an app now in beta that will soft launch by end of year!

A couple months of vacancy, a soft rental economy, or a major expense could eat up your equity.

Are soft costs like permit and architectural fees drawable and when are they released?

I think the short term effect on rents is virtually zero - illegal immigrants usually live multiple numbers to a home, rather than everyone having their own space like Americans - but longer term there may be some softness at the bottom levels of rentals. i would be more concerned about the lower economic job market than I would be about rental housing.

Custom cabinets with soft close on every drawer and for whatever reason buyers really like to see dove tail joints one of the first things they comment on when they open the drawers.

Yep for one especially in the early stages a hard credit pull would not be useful, just have them do soft checks for the time being and opt out of credit solicitation: www.optoutprescreen.com I could be biased... that said typically working with one lender than can help regardless of where you're looking and having a relationship with that will provide the easiest and most cost effective route long term. 

Soft on crime.