@Joe Carpyou can buy rentals with a DSCR loan, and they will not require W2 income like a conventional bankhowever, down payments will be 15-30%, so will use up your cash fasthow to scale as we sink money into each property is definitely a major challengei have done a couple successful BRRRRs that helped preserve capitalhope this helps

@Don Konipol  hit the nail on the head as usual..

I think you really hit the nail on the head here. 

get more estimates , if they come in the same  , grab a shingle eater  , nail gun and dumpster and do it yourself . 

There was also some minor damage: handful of nail holes in every room, their cat scratched up some of the trim, a bunch of dings/gouges around the doorways and in the bedrooms, marker stains on the bedroom wall.More significant damages: The tenant put glow stars up in the kids bedroom.

To preserve capital, can I make slightly higher offers on properties and have the seller pay toward these fees? 

However, the challenge to me is to capture her 3.75% existing mortgage at the same time preserving our cash.

I allow a "reasonable" number of small nails for hanging art, photos, etc.

The biggest difference with DSCRs is usually 1) prepayment penalties 2) more points 3) an affidavit that you cannot occupy the property 4) covenants and agreements regarding the requirements and rights of the lender to protect/preserve the collateral that may be more aggressive than Conventional.

From an asset preservation point of view he stops making payments immediately.