They will dig down around your footer or slab to see if it is the correct thickness or depth to support the 2nd floor. 

As a multifamily investor that uses property management companies I favor large sized properties because the economies of scale allow them to more easily support professional 3rd party management.

Our interest in real estate started out by us looking for a change from our current home (lateral move as he put it), to a few months later now we're seriously at investment opportunities, like buy and hold, and I'm working on my Florida Real Estate Sales Associate license.I'm so impressed, even from my short exposure thus far, at how giving, encouraging and supportive the BP members are!

I’d like to make enough to support myself over in France, when I make the decision to move.

Never heard of them but most all screening companies pull a Trans Union report, so I think BP support one here but forgot the name.

It does not seem that Europe has the same type of support and infra structure for real estate investors like US does.

Martin  Depending on if you income could support the debt, your down payment could buy 1 million dollars worth of debt with 5% down conventional.

Also, if you are pulling equity out, then you will end up putting less of your own cash into the next property, potentially increasing your cash-on-cash return.It really depends on what the numbers support.  

Take the gross income, x .43 then subtract reported monthly bills such as car, credit cards student loans child support etc. whatever is left is what the seller, or borrower, can qualify for. in other words...have them complete a 1003 with a lender to see. 

My main support and encouragement came from my grandfather who had been encouraging me to invest since 2008.