I would end up with cash to buy more houses, but my monthly debt load goes up and cashflow goes down.

While we have not yet secured our first property, we have spent the last year+ educating ourselves, networking, driving for dollars, and substantially reducing our debt load.  

In your case, it sounds like some non-load bearing partition walls were removed creating a larger bedroom which is pretty insignificant.

The $55 tax that is paid every year on a 15 year old car probably cost $40 to collect when you figure fully loaded overhead. 

This is one of the biggest mistakes I observe.While terms are important, take the time to get to know what each banker has to offer, their capacity and how they can help you grow.

look at your experience level with reality in mind.I would want to feel very comfortable about those things before spending time on deals and money when i had no real capacity to transact no matter who the lender was.

I learned the hard way that I need the capacity to make the first mortgage payments in the event of default. 2009-10 still stings. 

Point is, they are all in the business to make loads of money and they do not make money paying claims.  

They are obviously older machines because the cost per load is only $1.00.

Turn around time for these loans depends on the appraisal work load in the are the property is located.