As long as you qualify to carry the debt you can keep buying houses with just 20-25% down until you can't carry the debt or you run out of the 10 mortgages.

The reason you want them to turnover the keys is that it is an additional indication that they have given up possession of the unit.

I had some concern that tenants could be put off by the experience, as it's intrusive, but we had a great inspector who introduced himself, reiterated that he wasn't there to inspect their possessions or how they live, just make sure things were in working order, and it turned out fine.

The best way to minimize your debt to income ratio is to pay off any and all revolving debt you can (credit cards). 

I don't know it just doesn't work for me taking out mortgages no matter how good the deal is even if it is so called 'good' debt. 

@Phillip Syrios They probably look at debt/income ratio, credit limits, card utilization, length of employment, delinquencies, and bankruptcies.

I was told that once I sold the home via short sale, I would not be able to obtain another loan for 2 years.December 2013, the home sold in a short sale for $84,500 all of which went to settle the debt on the first loan.

The code violations, city/county/utility debts stay withe property.  

I have already used my VA loan for our primary residence and she was recently turned down for an FHA loan due to her debt to income ratio being to high (student loans).

I imagine this gets fuzzy real fast, considering that the lender would forgive a ton of debt, just for him to repurchase the home for a lower/equal price...