It's OK to be more tenacious with negotiating down, and make the most out of a slowing market to buy at lower prices.

If your rental rate is below the market anyway, a Tenant might consider this to be win as they would get the lower rate in the beginning and just rise to the level they were looking at everywhere else.Step clauses can be written right into the lease, or created by using 3 month lease terms with an auto-renewal at the step up rental rate price. 

Recently, management changed it so both loans can be made with one payment versus two separate transactions. 

The price points do make it hard to cash flow even with the lower interest rate subject tos. 

The importance of lowering expenses and increasing efficiency to maximize property income.

Are there any options with lower down payments?

Some PMC's will charge a lower percentage fee, but will charge it whether tenant paying or not.

The IRS views it as taxable income because it’s not being used for the purpose of deferring taxes under the 1031 rules.For example, if you sell a property and only use part of the proceeds for the next investment, the leftover amount (after paying transaction costs, etc.) is taxed.

So the lower the interest rate on the subject to loan, and the higher the prevailing rate, the more chance that a lender will initiate action.   

that we’ve learned in our 24 years, managing almost 700 doors across the Metro Detroit area, including almost 100 S8 leases:Class A Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, 3-5 years for positive cashflow, but you get highest relative rent & value appreciation.Vacancy Est: Historically 10%, 5% the more recent norm.Tenant Pool: Majority will have FICO scores of 680+ (roughly 5% probability of default), zero evictions in last 7 years.Class B Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, decent amount of relative rent & value appreciation.Vacancy Est: Historically 10%, 5% should be applied only if proper research done to support.Tenant Pool: Majority will have FICO scores of 620-680 (around 10% probability of default), some blemishes, but should have no evictions in last 5 yearsClass C Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, high cashflow and at the lower end of relative rent & value appreciation.