If you have well defined investing guidelines you don't need a crystal ball. 

The area does not have explicit rules on STRs so its a gamble with that strategy.

I would wait a while to get them at a discount but with condos, it always feels like a gamble because of future assessments, fee increases and difficulty getting a tenant approved in a timely manner.

We found that the "inspector" would note the most minute of things, but completely overlook areas that were egregious and outright dangerous.It is clear the "inspectors" were thrown together and sent out with no guidelines.  

The loan amount would be between 900k  - 1M which means it is just under Agency guidelines (know fannie goes lower but I don't think its worth the headache).

Most go by Fannie/Freddy guidelines which is max 70% LTV

Many lenders have specific guidelines regarding late payments, but some may still work with you if you've made up missed payments and have shown consistent recent payment behavior.

However, here's a general guideline that you might consider:Stocks: 50-60%Stocks offer the potential for long-term growth and can help protect against inflation.

I am looking at a prospective out of state long distance deal that has been difficult to obtain lending on as there is both a regular home and mobile home on the same property and the mobile home causes the potential investment to not meet conventional guidelines and therefore not even DSCR loans are an option.

Its a gamble to go the permit route or not in Philly and absolutely matters the neighborhood/your neighbors as they are usually the folks that will call L&I on you OR if your property is near other construction sites where inspectors would be traveling to/from.