Some banks let you refi any time.

A good amount is one that you are comfortable with putting down on a property, and more you are skin in the game you have better it looks when you approach investors, or banks.       

I wonder if people are looking at the math or simply buying anything they can get their hands on and banking entirely on price appreciation.

Recently, I purchased a property owned by the bank. 

I'd repay the loan I took from my LLC and then move on to the next property.The beauty of this is it won't be a hit on my credit so my DTI won't be impacted at all and I can give myself a better interest rate than a HML would.Would a bank or lender have an issue with the source of funds used to acquire the property when I go to refinance?

Enjoyed this, especially hearing the dirt bike and locked door stories.

This was something pretty out of the ordinary for the attorneys (the bank’s and ours), and it took more than five months from accepted offer to closing.

Do any other investors in or near the Spokane, WA area have any recommendations for a local bank or credit union for a first time home buyer?

So glad you've already plugged into the Bigger Pockets podcast - that was a huge source of education for me when I first started.If you haven't already, I would recommend finding a real estate agent that you trust (you've already had a few chime in here with recommendations ;), and also start talking to lenders (banks, mortgage brokers, credit unions, etc.)

Why pay the bank an extra $100 to save $30 on your taxes.