I know of one particular loan program in Columbus (I'd need to see if they service Dayton) that offers 0% down for owner-occupants.

On the other hand, a detailed quote with a higher total may offer more transparency and reduce the risk of surprises as the project progresses.I specialize in consulting services for situations like this, where I help clients evaluate contractor quotes, ensure transparency, and navigate the renovation process with confidence.

The license doesn't cost more, the service and quality does.And a note on that cost, in my experience hiring contractors, only a small percentage of the cost savings was due to finding the right guy who is willing to work for less.

Outdoor storage, moving services, additional parking.

The ways around that are to build a business around supporting their voucher and inspection program and spending no small amount of effort ensuring they are smoothly servicing your rentals. 

Hired part time admin assistant and 1/4 time services of book keeping professional. 

This is just my opinion and most likely wrong, but the US and its printing of money put themselves in this hole where now their debt is expensive to service which is why rates are high.

Thanks for your service, Charles.

A debt service loan is popular for that step.

I do not use a property management service to advertise and have always used Zillow to advertise, previous references, housing records, credit checks etc