Quote from @Scott Tennell: What creative financing strategies have you found to be the most effective in today's real estate market, especially in terms of working with sellers or investors in challenging conditions?

And this seems to be effective. 

It may effect lease renewals.  

I let them run to the end of the year as m-t-m, then send a rent raise letter, usually for $25 or $50, on or about Nov 1, effective Jan 1. 

Last week I made a post about getting a US mortgage as a US citizen who lives abroad (https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/49/topics/1219693-getti...). People responded by explaining that residential mortgage lenders ...

Besides a mouse trap, another effective way to deal with mice is a cat (if the tenant wants one and the lease allows it).I grew up on a family dairy farm and the barn had grain, which attracted mice.

Unless otherwise stated in this Agreement, Tenant shall establish their own utility accounts, effective no later than the lease start date, pay all utility charges, and maintain accounts in good standing.

Welcome advice on cost-effective way to transfer money.

There are more effective ways to accomplish this.

If you only plan on owning 2-4 properties, then there's really no harm in self-funding them unless you know a better, safer way to make more than the going interest rate on that money (most investment mortgages right now are about 7%, maybe effectively 5.5-6% after taxes depending on your brackets and tax structure).