I have also utilized owner financing for longer periods of time, including personal residence and 2 barrier island houses on the coast of Florida.  

These methods include: Detailed Engineering Cost ApproachDetailed Engineering Cost Estimate ApproachSurvey or Letter ApproachResidual Estimation ApproachSampling or Modeling ApproachExperience or “Rule of Thumb” ApproachIt’s important to understand the differences between the approaches including which one best fits your property and the reliability of each approach.DETAILED ENGINEERING COST APPROACHThis approach compiles the costs from construction and accounting reports to build a report.

One thing in real estate and probably most other businesses is that most people including me don't know how to measure and evaluate risks.  

Heck, I had a pool replastered for $3,700 including chemicals/setup. 

that we’ve learned in our 24 years, managing almost 700 doors across the Metro Detroit area, including almost 100 S8 leases:Class A Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, 3-5 years for positive cashflow, but you get highest relative rent & value appreciation.Vacancy Est: Historically 10%, 5% the more recent norm.Tenant Pool: Majority will have FICO scores of 680+ (roughly 5% probability of default), zero evictions in last 7 years.Class B Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, decent amount of relative rent & value appreciation.Vacancy Est: Historically 10%, 5% should be applied only if proper research done to support.Tenant Pool: Majority will have FICO scores of 620-680 (around 10% probability of default), some blemishes, but should have no evictions in last 5 yearsClass C Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, high cashflow and at the lower end of relative rent & value appreciation.

These factors include if you are a biz owner or not and if that business is a real estate related one.

I am being told by these lenders that I need two years of rental income included in tax returns for them to not use 75% of the rental income per the lease.Essentially no other debt that could help reduce the DTI.

i work full time too, so i can only do one big project at a time, and can only make about 1 offer every 1-2 months.my stock answer to anyone is to invest where they live - and for expensive metros that includes 1-2 hours out. 

Include a lender in your conversations that specializes in working with investors.  

She goes on to say that for her beginner investors, she doesn't let them buy over $100k total (including purchase and rehab), she already has a tenant pending for a particular property she currently wants to sell, already has a good relationships with a lender, and doesn't let rehab go over 2.5 weeks.