If you have never been a Banker reviewing a loan, then you are just gambling. 

With conventional long-term rentals, if you're an established landlord, lenders will count the income from a new rental property right away, allowing you to use it to qualify to purchase another.

I would open an LLC establish an EIN, open a business checking account with major FDIC bank. 

If there is landscaping that you can add where, once established while you live there, requires very little maintenance and water, then do that.

But something just did not add up with those guys ( and they were AZ based and slick as all get out) But to easy to approve me just send 10k for due diligence. only somewhat related but BiggerPockets really needs to acknowledge a new category of lender that falls in the Non-QM space (any mortgage thats not qualifying under the Agency QM rules - including DSCR lenders but also many established non-bank lenders that focus on pretty standard mortgage products that are part of the established Secondary Market and Finance Infastructure). 

Does he have any established US credit?

Eliminate debt, establish a budget, and save.

Here’s the plan I’ve come up with, and I’d love to hear your thoughts on its feasibility, potential risks, and any improvements you might suggest.The Plan1.Pay Off Mortgage: I currently have $170K left on my mortgage, and my goal is to aggressively pay it off in the next 1.5 years.2.Establish Emergency Fund: Before making any big moves, I’ll set aside 6-12 months’ worth of expenses as an emergency fund.3.Extract Equity: Once the mortgage is paid off, I’ll pull out the equity from the property.4.First Flip: Using the extracted equity, I’ll purchase another house, fix it up, and sell it for a profit.5.Reinvest Flip Profits: Instead of buying another property immediately, I’ll use the profits from the flip to renovate the original property, aiming to increase its rental income and appraisal value.6.Reappraise and Extract Equity Again: After renovating, I’ll get the original property reappraised and extract additional equity based on its increased value.7.Purchase Rental Properties: With the additional equity, I’ll start purchasing rental properties that offer positive cash flow and have growth potential.8.Leverage Equity Strategically: I’ll use equity from the original property and any new properties while maintaining a healthy loan-to-value ratio (LTV), ideally around 70-75%.9.Build Rental Portfolio: I’ll focus on acquiring a mix of property types (e.g., single-family homes, multi-family units) to diversify my investments.10.Focus on Cash Flow: I’ll prioritize properties that generate consistent positive cash flow, ensuring that rental income covers all expenses, including mortgage payments, maintenance, and management fees.11.Long-Term Hold: I’ll hold properties long-term to benefit from appreciation and tax advantages.

Set clear expectations and establish a process for addressing concerns and updates.

I thought of banking on appreciation and rate drops as pure speculation and akin to gambling.