However, based on the loans they are telling people to get and the course time frame - that is heavily implied as doable. 

A conventional loan How did you add value to the deal?

I would say go the owner occupant loan route to get into something for 3.5-5% down instead of 20-25% that you'd need with an investor loan, but those require you to live in the property for a year before you could rent it out.Airbnb could be appealing also since you'd already be furnishing the place for yourself, could just leave the furniture there after you'd move out.

Also, it was for an owner occupied duplex, so I was able to leverage better financing terms with an owner occupied loan.

Many lenders will charge additional rate increase if loan is under $150K.

Well 2 of the 3 properties have no loan.

One of the reasons for this is that the Sub2 investor may be nervous that the seller will say no.It should have been perfectly clear that the loan was going to stay in her name and you was taking over making the payments on her loan.

Even if you're already working with a Loan Officer, I'm here to help our community members to avoid being taken advantage of.

It’s not that they can’t get a loan.

Its a 3 bed 2 1/2 bath.It is around 255k and I am using the state's first time homebuyer loan that provides 6k towards the down-payment.