I have a good track record of operating at a 25-28% expense ration but Even with that historical performance I use 30-33%. 

Most use a debt service coverage ration of 1.25, meaning you can use up to 80% of this to make the loan payment.Hope this helps. 

To get listings, brokers have to promise sales price estimates that are often impossible to rationalize.

Rounding up, thinking you are covering yourself, is rationalizing...and very dangerous. 

Because the value of some assets may be below the arbitrary $75K minimum threshold we've seen in the market, we think it would make sense to bundle some assets together in a rational sized package.

You need to decide if you can rationalize the extra cost, it is a classic MBA MAKE versus BUY question. 

The combination of my debt to income ration and the feeling that the market is pretty high right now has me thinking about finishing the acquisition phase. 

I am pretty confident in my rational but I'd like opinion from others who may have experienced this situation or any legal input! 

Then you either end up walking away pissed off because you didn’t get the deal or you make a bad deal and overpay because you aren’t patient enough to be rational and negotiate.

I also have around $87,000 of equity in the home but my debt to income ration is too high for me to get a HELOC for the renovations.