We painted the outside, cleaned up the backyard, changed the fireplace, changed kitchen countertops and backsplash, added accent wallks.

What color are you painting your stock cabinets?

Use private money lenders and choose a conservative market.

Also, if you're working with a local bank, theyre likely choosing not to originate  Conventional loans for investment properties and to only offer commercial loans that they hold on their balance sheet, which are subject to their own internal credit policies.

I'd suggest choosing an area that looks like it has potential and then spend your spare time just driving around.

No appraisalI realize I don't get to choose the terms when using a white label service but I'd like to get close until I have my own funding. 

If there were other issues though, be aware that they could choose to enforce this minimum at any timeMore recently, the city has created a rental database with contact information of all active rentals in the city that law enforcement and city officials have access to.

By the time he was 16, he had a half dozen part time employees and ads in paper to do various handyman stuff including hanging Christmas decorations, assembling ikea furniture, gardening, painting, building fences, etC.Then came the demon child.  

You can use Zillow or rent cast along with others to paint a picture of the area where you want to invest. 

Clarity shows commitment and improves your chances of obtaining funding, whichever property you choose.