With Chicago's new Express Permit Program, it's a bit easier to get permits for work that would have previously required architectural drawings. 

@Helena Goyvaerts it will be tough without 2+ years of USA tax returns showing you are profitable.Higher interest rates have negatively affected most lenders and many of them are getting more aggressive with offering more flexible programs. 

They used that period of unemployment to skip paying student loans and then try to get some kind of program/hardship deferral or something aka "gaming the system".

Hard money is a great financing program to get you going.

The S8 program was never designed to put S8 tenants in Class A rentals!

The secret is tenant selection, and finding good tenants in the program. 

If you do not have (2) full years of 1099 you can still get approved for a mortgage using a Non/QM program like a "1 Year 1099" program or Bank statements.

Now they want to put the properties into RE Gain Fund, LLC UpREIT (which appears to have been established in 2023). 

You have to understand that without specifics you appear defensive rather than credible (what does "pass all of the checks and have proper income" mean?).

Starting out as a wholesaler appeared to be the best place to start in Real Estate for me.