Would be helpful what city you are looking at, but you could see if STR, MTR, or rent by the room are viable options to increase that rental amount.

This means you are increasing your net worth faster than if you go to a less expensive area. 

I'll also be looking for a 6mo lease to get back onto the standard cycle.

The shorter the prepayment term has an impact on increasing the rate.4.

I suspect their criteria increased to re-alight with risk. 

I did pay myself a salary last year and plan to do so again, but I won't be able to produce the standard, "...last two pay slips" type of documentation that normal conventional lenders want. 

The shorter the prepayment term has an impact on increasing the rate.4.

The neighborhood (average in appeal) is poised to increase in value as it's in hurricane effected area.

We purchased it below market value and increased the rents from $1000-1200 up to $1400-1500 What was the outcome?

Last year, my wife and I had a 10% increase on the 2bd/2ba apartment we rented, pushing it to $4,080 monthly.