But even after this, we'd have to rent-back for 60 days or so and would still be on the clock to find a place and in the specific neighborhood of the school where we want our kids, and we'd be doing all this during the election timeframe, where there may be low inventory levels based on what we've heard from realtors in general etc - if we can't find anything, we'd have to rent anyway). 

When you deliberately lower your deductions to artificially inflate your income - and then use that tax return to qualify for a mortgage, you have committed mortgage fraud.What you can do is make certain elections.For example, some repairs you can elect to depreciate. 

I figured you meant something like that.There have been long periods of relative decline in the market and people forget the risk is there because we have been in a liquidity induced bull period for so long

I meant price per square foot when it came to comps, since their aren’t many in the area.

This meant less money down for the properties and more flexible options regarding interest rates and mortgage terms but more importantly, it created a relationship.

What you are experiencing has nothing to do with your screening process; it has to do with the already pro-tenant local/state laws on the books coupled with the executive orders that governors/mayors have proclaimed in these pro-tenant areas and the public messaging these elected officials are producing.  

The way you elect to have your entity taxed, may cost you more today, but less in the long run.

@Jesse Easter I meant to make sure that the building allows rentals.

Your intent and how you can demonstrate it are key.So I spose some of this could be dependant on what you meant by flipping. 

I meant they’re getting info on unemployment for me.