Keep in mind, though, that each lender has their own criteria for how much future potential they’ll factor in, so it might come down to some skillful negotiation and presenting detailed projections that don’t feel like puffery.Just be careful not to come off as overly speculative…lenders tendd to shy away from what sounds too good to be true.Anyway, I’m curious.. have you spotted any other investors in Gainesville facing a similar refinance puzzle and what kind of terms were they able to secure? 

When rates re-trace and other folks start trying to deploy the capital, I want to know I secured the (right) asset.

When its included in a lease for real estate then the laws pertaining to residential rental security deposits in your state apply but when its separate you should have more leeway to get some additional deposit to protect you.

We get just as frustrated because the system is a bit "broken":(I believe the team is in communication with you about your options - just be sure to also let us know your choice to secure the property to deter squatters as cost-effectively as possible.

Do you have any suggestions on how we can secure long-term financing under these circumstances?

This could help secure a higher LTV while you build STR rental history.

Now he has one under his belt he can go out and use that framework to do the next one and the next. 

It’s astounding how many fake documents are circulating today—you can find everything from fake references and stolen Social Security numbers to falsified income documents.To combat this, we rely on tools like Plaid, Verifast, and Snappt, which are excellent for verifying financial information and detecting fraudulent activity.

I completely agree with @Ashish Acharya's points about the cost-effectiveness of a HELOC and the potential credit implications if it’s secured by your primary residence.

They didn’t completely destroy the house, I did keep most of their security deposit and used it for the repairs, along with some of our own cash.