It's like charging a beggar $500 for a loaf of bread and then asking him why he can't gain any weight. 

We otherwise had every element for one: record snowfall, our negligence/naiveness, roof on a house built in the 50's not strong enough to sustain weight from so much snowfall in such a short period of time.

I wanted to start with something very inexpensive on my first house so that the risk would be less, and then gradually move the needle up as my experience and confidence in my process grows.

Property managers are worth their weight in gold when you find a good one!

We're making gradual enhancements and this is definitely on the list!

@Neal Boroumand DTI is always something you have to keep in mind but also give equal weight to the applicants history (scores are not everything but history is).

But your strongly-worded letter will probably go unanswered, and you'll most likely gradually learn you've fallen prey to yet another crook in an often rapacious, largely unregulated industry.

Generally the listing brokerage is going to side with the other broker/agent because a buyer can be a one off sale but the brokers and agents have to deal with each other on a regular basis so that ongoing relationship usually holds more weight and importance for them to protect.If you do not have a buyer brokerage agreement then you should be able to start using someone else for other properties.No legal advice given.    

My experience tells me to not view your situation as standing at the base of a 30,000ft mountain but a gradual hill that you have to cast aside frustration and make the steady hike up.

In contrast, if you gradually make principal payments on your $1 million of pre-TCJA home acquisition debt, you won’t be able to treat any portion of an additional home loan taken in 2018–2025 as home acquisition debt because your existing loan will absorb the entire $750,000 TCJA limit."