Anyway - I found the best fit was to go with larger regional/National banks.

You should check with local fellow landlords as your lease may need some verbage that is specific to your region.

They are a nationwide outfit, but Mike has been moving and shaking in this region. 

Do the work to ask around your local/regional banks and credit unions, but don't hold your breath. 6 months really isn't that long in the grand scheme of things and by the time you get the reno finished and both units rented out, it will likely be 6 months already.Lastly, have you run the numbers on this property as a rental(s)?

I am from Toronto, but have been in Edmonton for over a year now - and I am really motivated to get started with real estate investing in this city.I spent a short period as a real estate agent in Toronto over a decade ago; but other than that I have very little real estate experience. 

:Nobody likes a bragger You got me there. heh, hehI like Atlanta and that whole region.

There are probably a few more ways to get 85% LTV between conventional and other regional banks as well.

Reject that, too.You've got to crawl -> walk -> run, but without the brain damage that comes from a call center.Find a local credit union or regional bank, especially one with a great Realtor affiliate program.Once you do your job well enough that those Realtors are sending you their referral business and not just accepting your referrals to them, you're ready for the big leagues.

example:  Small regional bank makes loan ... bank fails  ( 400 banks in Georgia failed in the GFC)  Assets are sold to a hedge fund like Rialto..  

Just want to make sure you're taking regional difference into account when you're building out your business modeling and forecasting.