Lesson learned: buy for cash flow (even if it's your primary residence, will it cash flow as an eventual rental), buy with low-leverage long-term debt (we bought with 10% down on an adjustable rate mortgage), have sufficient cash reserves (have enough savings in the bank to weather 6 months without rental income).After that debacle, we fell into a house hack renting out a guest house on our primary residence property as a short-term rental.

Some things to keep in mindThese days banks are not calling the note due on a mortgage that is performing.Did your mentors mention the "self sufficiency test" to you?

I think for now this is a sufficient introduction and I'm excited to meet you all!

Let's say the contractor identifies $10k of additional costs in their scope of works that you did not plan for, putting you at risk of not getting sufficient cash-out in your refi to cover the purchase price and rehab.

The IRS also raises its hackles about this every other year or so, but they still allow the vast majority.

So a simple phone call or personal meeting can be sufficient to establish the relationship.

If they do not have sufficient liquid capital to cover the cost of filling out some paperwork and running a credit check, then how are they going to loan you hundreds of thousands of dollars???? 

The vast majority of these kids have never lived alone and have no idea how to take care of a house.

Although you have not partnered with them before, I assume you know them well and am satisfied that the managing party has sufficient experience to manage and operate a value-add, multifamily deal like this.

You need to show sufficient justification --- not like dealing with an audit is any fun.