So, I'm addressing a primary home with a different perspective than an investment property.  

Is this scenario any different than a hard money lender lending 100% (we did find one), paying as part of the rehab cost, a contractor, and only reaping the benefits of the interest and points he would charge?

SeanOther banks may be different but I have a savings account at the same bank that holds my heloc.

Some may not agree, but think I would rather avoid mixing different guest preferences and recommendations for future guests.

if you want Zero risk then park in your brokerage account and buy USFR, a wisdom tree ETF, pays 5.39% interest, holds 8 week UT treasury floating rate notes only, so you don't need to worry about FDIC or SPIC insurance as only way US govt doesn't pay is if we get nuked, then you won't much care about Yieldif you ok with mild risk, I put my emergency funds cash into a group of different BDCs i like, these are business development companies (mini-banks) that make loans to small to medium size companies.

Absolutely agree that every situation is different.

Life had different ideas and I sold them both and bought a family home (4 bed) and a 2 bed investment.

@Courtney Olson - you listed a lot of different areas of North Alabama that all have different characteristics, so I'll throw in my two cents here on them.Huntsville - it is tough to find deals right now that work.

From there you'll be able to assess.If you think you can just hop on BP, find an agent, and the agent will pair you with that house then I also believe you expectations need to be different.

There is one here on BP - https://www.biggerpockets.com/rental-property-calculatorGo to Tools and you will see all of the calculators they have for different investments on the site here.