Due to Covid, many sellers have taken their homes off the market, further restricting buyers options.I've been in 2 bidding wars this month and am about to write an offer on a multiple offer scenario.

If you use a portfolio lender, or one that sells their notes to private Mortgage Backed Securities (MBS), there's no such broad restriction on portfolio lenders.

On a related front, a friend of mine is in the same position, and also getting a conventional home loan now incidentally, so I'm pretty sure Banks using Fannie and Freddie tightening guidelines won't want to see an SBA loan pop up as he applies, which begs the question: how do we allow quasi Gov standards now imposed to condemn people based on direct effects of a Gov mandate?!

Just to be clear, the $25,000 is a fine for failing to submit your IRS 5472 form, it's not going to be imposed if you file properly!

Also, are there any kind of restrictions when it comes to buying rental properties?

On the multi side as a former Freddie employee in underwriting and now a Freddie/Fannie originator, 3 years IO tells me it's likely a 10 year deal or longer. 3 years is typical, on 7 year paper it will tap out at 2 years (there are refinance test restrictions, etc...).

I would like to ask some specific money questions and I understand they restrict those type questions in this forum.

There are certain restrictions for junior personnel (such as being married, being a certain rank with a certain amount of time in, every base operates different based on capacity) and Officers collect BAH regardless if they live on base or not.

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/mortgage-regulator-to-loosen-refinance-restrictions-for-home-loans-in-forbearance-2020-05-19 This recently came out showing only 3 consecutive payments would be needed after forbearance ends to qualify for new credit. 

@Navroze Pirza  We invest primarily in NBLandlord friendly (for keeping pace with market rents) are: AB NB NL NS QC SKON, BC, PEI, MB all restrict how much a landlord can increase rents