A $100-$200k down payment would get you a decent multifamily property, possibly with land depending on where you look. 

Money for the down payments that comes in like an annuity either from your W2 efforts or from owning another business.

Any other expenses are using up funds that would otherwise be sitting in your checking account to make a mortgage payment with.

Here’s what made a difference for us:🔹 Mortgage Relief – Many lenders offer disaster relief options like payment pauses or loan modifications.

It's probably going to mean paying points at closing, a high rate, and a serious pre-payment penalty (like 5 years). 

She can set up payments to be paid on the 1st of the month and no one is driving 24/7. 

This would be an opportunity to discuss deferred payments and a 5 year balloon. 

In theory, since we don't have a prepayment penalty, you could borrow the money, complete the rehab and pay off your loan before your first payment was due.

Do they use a servicing company to make the payments directly to the , or do they make payments directly to the seller and hope they pass them on to the lender?

It’s a great way to grow faster.HELOC or Equity Tapping: If you have equity in another property, using a HELOC or cash-out refinance could help cover the down payment without affecting your DTI as much.Seller Financing or Creative Deals: Look for sellers willing to finance directly, which bypasses traditional mortgage qualification hurdles.Scaling quickly often involves combining strategies—play around with what works best for your goals.