So I just recently purchased my first investment property, and during the process, the mortgage lender was trying to nudge me into getting the loan as a secondary residence (stuff like: "You'll get a lower rate, you c...

ie if I’m on title with a partner but not on the hook for the mortgage it counts against my 10 conventional loan limit?

I’m planning to do a conventional loan.

The hard money lender is going to want to know what your exit strategy is for refinancing after 6 months.It sounds like this would not be an opinion for you.My recommendation would be seeing if it can go conventional so you can leverage one of the products that allows you to house hack and put a low downpayment.I am also based in Columbus, Ohio

We also have a wonderful convention center. 

If I plan to get conventional bank financing, would I still need a realtor in this transaction?

Conventional Bank Financing How did you add value to the deal?

@Grayson Muehlstein this is because most conventional loans are sold on the secondary market to end investors and an investor isn't buying a note to a house with no working electrical.

For Conventional loans you can get away with more on an appraisal than you can for FHA. 

Is anyone having trouble finding conventional funding for renovation?