They're not like big conventional banks after all (correct me if I'm mistaken).I found one that does a soft pull so I'm thinking there's nothing to lose. 

The important language in your reply is "on their behalf" -- redirecting the principal's funds is not acting on their behalf.Seems to me the smartest/easiest way to deal with lender escrow accounts is to have that feature eliminated from the loan ASAP in the subto process... preferably immediately after an annual tax disbursement reduces the account balance to a low point.But yes, when the principal dies so does the power.

A Section 1031 exchange, often referred to as a “like-kind exchange,” allows for the deferral of capital gains taxes when you reinvest the proceeds from the sale of real property into another real property of like kind, used for investment or business purposes.Unfortunately, you cannot use a 1031 exchange in this scenario because the sale of a primary residence and the purchase of a small business do not meet the “like-kind” requirement.

These lists include details like the type of permit, property address, project scope, and sometimes the owner or contractor's contact information.How Real Estate Investors Can Use Building Permit Lists:Identify Potential Sellers:Investors can track permits for major renovations or additions.

That means you have virtually no experience in Real Estate.  

After speaking with the bank, I may be DTI limited instead of LTV limited anyway.

I recommend scheduling a call with a real estate lawyer.

I'd rather spend time meeting people and fostering real relationships than driving people bonkers with cold calls!

But you say you put ANOTHER $5k into it after city inspection didn't pass.

In the real estate SFH market, we observed multiple platforms like Zillow, Redfin, Realtor, Trulia, and Movoto - each offering unique user interfaces, features, and experiences.