However, if the FHA interest rate is lower, I would still go that route and if rates drop refinance  however keep in mind FHA has PMI for life  Here you go FHA has the self sustaining requirement that requires the three non owner occupied  units to cover the entire PITI which with 3.5% or 5% down is virtually impossible with today's interest rates and price level.

Being the military, it had that definite institutional overtone to it, but the basic premise was the same.I recently toured a new senior's complex in which on end - for those who were still relatively self sufficient - had individual units (bedroom, sitting room / kitchenette ... effectively a bachelor apartment but without a full kitchen) clustered together in groups of 4 with their own common room / kitchen and courtyard.On the other side of the complex were units for those who required more assisted living.  

Unless the borrower is self employed and takes a lot of expenses to show lower income on their returns then it usually makes sense to pay a couple thousand a year in higher interest (you can pay like 4,000 a year in additional interest for DSCR if you are saving 30+k on your tax bill kind of math lol)

As far as whether to approach them with or without an agent - approaching them directly without an agent can save the seller probably 2.5-3% of fees, which give you some room to negotiate on the price, but you need to be confident that you are capable of evaluating the property value, estimating on the amount of work that is needed, knowing how to negotiate/ structure the deal, and navigating the closing process.

I also self manage.  

Hi @Gil Canfu definitely there are many places in DFW where you can invest in a good rental property.I am not sure where you are at, but if self managed you should start in cities with good proximity to where you live.All the corridor between Princeton to Saginaw has good deals but there are many others things to consider as I mentioned previously.

Courtesy of Dodd Frank, its doubtful the self employed will ever be viewed by lenders as favorable as a w2 employee.

If you hate the process of placing tenants, it may be worth it to hire a property manager to handle tenant placement for you.I think finding a new tenant is a better long term strategy if you're confident you can find a higher quality tenant that will cause you fewer headaches.

I have one rental property that I have been self managing for about 10 years but I'm looking to exploring and potentially doing my first Flip this year. 

Structuring the agreement properly, outlining how profits will be split, who covers the rehab costs, and what the timeline looks like can ensure the seller feels confident in the process.