That will only require ~3.5% down, but you will need to be buying as an owner occupant.

You need to talk to the building dept to see exactly what must be done to make it occupant worthy.

The bank hopes a owner-occupant will buy it with only a slight discount and then put in the work to bring it up to what they want.

You may have better luck with meter readers for utility companies, they usually have similar company restrictions, but they may not be under the heaiver hand of government and may have more leeway, but I doubt they will be giving out names of owners or occupants.

On average, what do most of the smaller, "investor friendly banks" need in terms of occupancy rates to lend on multi-family?

.- Roommate rules: I put overnight guest limits, occupancy, parties, etc. in lease.- Being too nice... sometimes it's nice to help a roommate tenant move in a couch, but I'm sure if you give an inch too often they'll take a mile.

Occupants trashing a unit is kind of hard to insure.

30 seconds on the website for the program clearly shows a three year occupancy requirement as your primary residence

Problem is that owner occupants have first look until December on this one..

I'll dread the coming 6 months from May to Oct - however Gainesville 2.5 hours drive north of here in Polk County where I'm moving to as 4plex owner occupant next week is a few degrees cooler on avg with nice hardwood trees and much more of a seasonal change to it..