The trouble is in Wisconsin this earnest money deposit has very specific restrictions as to how quickly it has to be returned and what specifically it can be applied to.

There aren't any more quick and easy finds.The last statement, about not having the mortgage covered even by three renters, will only apply if your purchase price was too high (which is kinda related to the temperature of the market).

Each constraint applies to the lesser of their net worth or income.  

Sure hoping I can take what I have learned in the institutional setting and apply it on a smaller scale. 

I did not look for your location so nothing I said applies!

Specific tracing rules apply for allocating debt proceeds and repayment.

There are a few other people on BP that have yet to learn that the rules apply to everyone.

How do I know, it says so and when you apply for a loan, they tell you the process; It takes 3 weeks to get funded but not everyone can get funded.

There is very little regulation for HOA'sThe HOA rules apply to tenants also, so make them responsible for fines in the lease.

For yourself if you wish to be a landlord it is manditory that you learn all the regulations and understand how they are applied in your state.