There are guidelines and guardrails, but a challenging deal can have positives and a golden deal can have issues below the surface.

These guys are scammers if there ever were any and a future episode of American Greed. 

@Jonathan Blanco, I'm and investor and a licensed mortgage broker so I've been on both sides of this conversation.I would look for a lender that (1) listens to you and understands your strategy and needs (hint: it's not always money), (2) has experience working with clients executing your strategy and brings more to the table than just cash - be it advice, relationships, deal-team partners, etc., (3) gives you viable options and explains the pros and cons of each option and (4) you enjoy interacting with - this should be a relationship, not a transaction.Once you find a few lenders like this (and you should have relationships with more than one), then you can start comparing rates and fees.

Granted, I have a 30-person construction crew,  a designer (my wife, so literally in-house), and a plumbing and electrical company that works on my stuff solely. 

I think I may have just answered my own question, but is it worth it to put only 10% down, and waiting for the equity to build to 20% in like a year and a half, or to bend over backwards, take out a loan and go in with 20% from the start?

These are professionals with additional training and a stricter code of ethics.

I financed this property using down payment funds from 403B and a local commercial bank. 15% down from personal funds. 85% down from community commercial bank. 3yr balloon, 20yr amortization, 7% interest rate.

It is zoned single family but since the previous owner is using it as a rooming house a few things look different that I am worried about the appraiser not passing:Outside doors for each room with locks.The only common area is the kitchen, no dining room, living room, etc.The rooms consist of 5 bedrooms, 1 kitchen, and 2 bathrooms.Each room has a bed and a small drawer which I am thinking of diassembling before the appraiser comes.Would I have a problem with this?

Is this place rundown and a fixer upper? 

I'm an Asheville STR owner and a broker on the Cashiers/Highlands Plateau.