I'd talk to a few mortgage brokers who aren't affiliated with a particular bank, just to be sure it's not some overlay that this lender has with their underwriting. 

I have no affiliation with Limetree, but they have earned my praise.

I use Goldmoney (I am not affiliated with them in any way).

The Tenant is required to obtain his/her own renter’s insurance policy against fire, theft, or other disasters, as the Landlord carries insurance on the building(s) only. .The Tenant hereby agrees to indemnify, compensate and forever hold harmless, the Landlord, its successors and assigns, any parent affiliate and subsidiary entities, their insurers, their assigns, their successors, their legal representatives, officers, directors, employees, agents, or any others who may be acting on behalf of them from any and all claims, damages, actions, causes of action or liability whatsoever, resulting from or arising out of injury to or death of any guest, agent, employee, licensee or invitee of the Tenant in or about the Premises, or damage or destruction of any property owned by the Tenant or any guest, agent, employee, licensee or invitee of the Tenant, unless such injury, death or damage solely and directly results from the intentional or grossly negligent acts of the Landlord.

In the class they taught us how to look for gang affiliation,  what to have on hand to fix things on the spot in the inspection (light bulbs, fire extinguisher, batteries for smoke alarm).  

I'm not affiliated with them.

They recommend about 15 different growing, cash-flow markets and vet all the turn-key affiliates so that I am not going into a market 'blind'--all of their affiliates also have property managers in-house or partnered. 

You're not a kid out of high school, you have some experience so most moving into another career consider where they are at in education and experience,Experience in something doesn't mean you need to stay in that industry, but experiences, all kinds adapt well to RE and affiliated businesses.So, me just picking out something and suggesting what you ought to do for the rest of your working life isn't going to be good advice.You can make a million or two with a trash collect service, or in developments, notes, just about anything, but what are you good at and what do you enjoy.

And that broker can only be affiliated with your firm.

@John W Sheffer JrThe following is a good resource regarding the controlled group rules as well as the much forgotten affiliated group rules. https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?