Owner occupied loans have allowed us to purchase properties in markets with heavy appreciation, and potential for huge rent increases.

The smaller more nimble banks such as state chartered or regional banks are better able to service you.If the LLC that owns the property is part of a legitimate business, is profitable, then you stand a good chance of securing some kind of funding.

I would both buy a property to get your feet wet and at the same time make a plan to scale.  

Not the most scalable method, but I like the benefits it affords me while I am still a smaller operation.Completing 500 builds in just over 10 years is impressive for someone who just sorta fell into it.

One of the trends you see clearly is that smaller landlords do not want to rock the boat increases, especially with good tenants. 

And the only "client" reviews I've seen mention that their customer service is non responsive and difficult to get a hold of once you're purchased their services.

This amounts to lost opportunity because if you had purchased RE, at the closing it can start producing return. 5) ADUs detract from the existing structure whether this is privacy, a garage, or just yard space. 6) this is related to number 1, but there are many more buyers looking to purchase homes for their family than there are RE investors looking to purchase small unit count properties.

Lee Arnold has helped a lot of people start or scale their real estate business.

I have been buying underperforming properties and I believe all the big names soon do the same just in a bigger scale. 

I am a smaller Main Street Type investor and have created/manufactured SFR notes as part of my fix-n-flip program for many years.