I would suspect you may be able to get around $5k and maybe $10k max for a loan based on the income. 

Based on the rental estimates, we would net about $700 a month in surplus income since our mortgage is pretty inexpensive.I'm looking to get any and all opinions as I want to make the correct choice for us and also want to make sure I don't screw anything up if we do decide to choose option 2. 

It's important to personally speak with prospects by phone or video call when they inquire about the property.

He doesn't seem to want to help in that department and instead provides buffered repairs numbers that are based on nothing.I will say, I do have a great PM that is always there come inspection and tells me the hard truth, but I don't want to continue wasting his time on duds.

I also know that a duplex, while slower, is the safer, more conservative approach and on my single income.Either way, for the second property, said another way its like small steps every 16 months or bigger steps at 32 months based on my current saving rate.

I would anticipate a primarily residential to be there, but primarily commercial might be around mid-9s to sniffing 10, based on where the 10-year is and how it would cash-flow

I don't have as much info as the lender that pre-approved you, but based on the info you've provided and assuming you have decent credit, there's a good chance you can get that rate closer to 6%.

A careful present value of the two strategies would need to be made based upon a specific investor's circumstances, goals and objectives to determine which would be best for them.  

I am a buy and hold investor in Florida looking for an asset based lender to refinance a Condo .

I made it clear on the phone what the terms are in order to move in, first month's rent + 2 months deposit (among other things).