If you can get conventional financing that is 100% the way to go almost everytime.

I can pay for all my problems using the cash flow from my current rentals.

Can this be a factor to use to negotiate the rate down? 

  $81k seems like a very expensive fee....but I have not been able to get the financing and if he can get it done I question if it is necessary / normal?

Starting to wrangle as much cash as I can to do my first small deal and get some positive cash flow to exit the rat race!

This is my slow part of the year, and I do all the things to move the algorithm…fiddle with order of photos, change seasonality in my photos, tick as many boxes as I can, fiddle with pricing.  

If we notice something that isn't in the lease that we feel is important, can we add an addendum or if we agree to "as is" is that also the lease or just the property?

We can help with ground-up construction loans for owner-occupied homes?

Can someone guide me where to apply and obtain a license to build this basement unit to an official unit with its address, electric, and other amenities?

You can use a DSCR loan to buy the investment home because it 'Does Not" require income or job verification.