I hope to keep using owner occupied financing, but unsure which is the best strategy since banks require me to put down 15% on a multi-family property compared to 3.5% on a single family residence.Interested in opinions on this, or other ideas....

While a walk through may identify a variety of things, a true home inspection is not that expensive compared to the purchase price and may identify issues that can either save you money (in the form of concessions) or reveal issues that may kill the deal entirely.Restoration deals (i.e. mold, fire damage, etc.) can be very profitable, but you need the right team.

Our experience is that US banks are at least a decade behind servicing customers compared to Australian banks.

I like to compare my actuall Real estate board stats to what they say, I find its usually cherry picked data.If the Toronto Market starts to fail the ripple effect will start to been seen on the outskirts of the GTA first and foremost, as those values are based strictly upon lack of affordability in the city core.Most cities with their own economy will weather the storm with ease and see little to no negative effects, Brampton, Missisauge, Cambridge, Hamilton, Kitchener and similar areas will see mild stagnation if not slow growth.Places based purely on accessibility with little employers in the area will get hit the hardest as the Toronto market slows down or sees negative appreciation people will buy in the city core rather than an outskirt.

I'm having a really hard time comparing these properties because it feels like apples and oranges.For you, what kind of neighborhoods have worked best?

I agree we are in the early innings in Chelsea, which may not be a bad thing compared to red-hot markets like East Boston, but I would be careful of much of the construction quality in Chelsea however.

What are the market comparables?

Banks generally will take 70% of gross rents and compare that to his loan payment.. so if 70% of gross rents was $1050, and his payment was only $500, it counts as extra income on the debt ratio...

@Annie Thompson  I think one of the main functions of the site is to compare actual product side by side and compare cities and see what kinds of returns.. are out their from the providers that post their inventory  its real inventory that can be bought and you don't need to go to a squeeze page to get the super secret inventory lists LOL..I would not base a buy decision solely on  online reviews.. 

Their service is usually much better than the large banks and often their fees are minimal compared to the large institutions.