Perhaps a business line of creditloan might serve your objective

The fact you have a rental locally as well doesnt help and or distorts the case as a second home or primary so I can see why this would be declined.At the end of the day this file was probably structured poorly or perhaps the loan officer did not understand your objectives and put it together, turned it in, and prayed for the best.

From experience, it is a HUGE pain going through agent after agent who is a supposed "specialist" for investors to only waste your time, arguably more than a wholesaler would. 

We want to be objective and fair 

It's very easy to get distracted by "shiny objects" and never pull the trigger on anything.I'd suggest buying a home in an "okay" area for around $20k and rehabbing it to make rent ready.  

Some landlords try to keep some of it, or even all, of the deposit the key if you go to court is what you agreed to, or what seems to be to an objective reasonable person.

I'm an agent, a VA specialist, a buy and hold investor, and a veteran.

Included in the core 5 is our Loan Broker, Closer/acquisition specialist/salesman, 'Money man', A MN General Contractor named Matthew Brandt (One Stop General Contracting) and myself (I find the properties, negotiate, work with Matt to figure out rehab so we can put forth a reasonable offer that benefits all parties/vet the properties, take care of the sale or refinance and property management etc etc...).

Most commercial specialize by property type there are around 5 apartment specialists that operate in nky or Cincinnati.It is important to work with someone that understands the property type and that invests in the property type

You should speak with a mortgage specialist about it.