Quote from @Mary Joe: As long as you have justification and you apply the standard equally to all applicants, you should be fine. 1.

Real estate is a long game unless you are talking about getting a real estate job, which then requires skill and experience.

SBA loans take to long for a location that is for sale. 

If your accountant will let you expense it that would give you more benefit if the short term. 

Also keep in mind its 24 months technically not 2 years, so as long as you have 24 months of the past 5 years (does not need to be consecutive) Your good

You may want to start working on your credit score to save big long term dollars on better rates in the future.

Does it matter where the lender is based as long as they meet the licensing within that state?

As long as you don't argue with them or make them mad, you should not experience more than the usual brain damage of getting permits.

Quote from @David Gruszka: I wouldn't touch this applicant with a ten-foot pole.The drug felony is old enough that it may not matter as long as she has maintained steady work and kept her finances straight.

I am currently in debt a total of about $75,000 and they don't tell you that you should really have funds for the cost of the program and at LEAST 9-12 months because it could be that long for a deal to be closed.