If you are buying 3-4 units, you will be required to pass the FHA self sufficiency test.

If your purchase is 'local' then your SFR experience should be sufficient.

BK is the common denominator I see for loans that "fall through the cracks".If the lender initiated foreclosure today, are values up sufficiently that you would pay it off?  

In this case, a number like 3% is what the contract states, you *are* ultimately responsible for it, but won't have to worry about paying it so long as the listing offers a sufficient commission to cover it.

If you delivered the property with clean carpets and sufficient ventilation in the bathrooms, I don't see how you could possibly fault yourself.

I've met 50 year olds that are not ready to buy a property and likely never will be ... by the same token, I'm sure there are also some 18 year olds out there that are ready.

If you can find comparables which have also been recently renovated and the appraisal did not include comparables which were recently renovated then you can make the case that the appraiser did not use the best comparables available and did not give sufficient consideration to the condition which is a significant factor which has an impact on value.   

To sum it up again, and for the last time, because a word to the wise should have been sufficient, and we are well past it by now- I find it very hard to believe that of all the investors that own assets in REI, 98% or even 90% end up losing money, and I'd like to see statistics, rather than someones anecdotal impression. 

Luckily I have been at this w2 for 10+ years so that probably helped.If my DTI would have been sufficient without the Tijuana condo in there I would not have listed it.  

Thirdly, make sure you have sufficient reserves once you have completed the deal.I agree with previous posters.