To make a long story short, for one property you are not going to save $ in the long run and realize materials can take 6-16 weeks to arrive. 

The landscape is just different than even the last 3 years with people making bad calls but getting saved by significant appreciation. 

The patent on the 30 year with taxes and insurance was 3900 or so.   

I also ask if they've ever been evicted, refused to pay rent, or filed for bankruptcy.Further, I ask account numbers for their checking and savings accounts, and the approximate balances in each.

Post Dodd Frank sellers have continued the same bad practice of selling houses to occupants with financing at selling prices that are way high, can't be justified via any type of 3rd party valuation (appraisal, zestimate, tax value, even recent sales in the same area).   

Set clear goals, save for a down payment, and practice analyzing deals to build your confidence.

@Laura GenoneI have my own information saved as a contact in my phone and it allows me to text, airdrop, or email my information to people I network with.

THEN, I plan to purchase the second home using a FHA or conventional loan (3%-5% down), for which I will likely pay the monthly cost out-of-pocket, maybe with some rental income support if it is a duplex.My concern is, I do not want to spend my savings or weigh down my debt-to-income ratio so much so that I cannot qualify for and pay the down payment and closing for the lending on the second home.Questions: - With the first home being multi-family, 75% of the rental income (or potential rental income initially) will relatively either maintain or boost my debt-to-income ratio from lenders' perspectives, right? 

It saved my quite a bit on interest costs.

Saving $10 to miss out on proper data that leads you to a $40k deal is not worth it.