Just so you know, the basic requirements for the property include income of 3x the rent, good previous landlord recommendations and a favorable background and credit report.

I have gone to seminars, listened to podcasts, read books, and I even worked for a credit agency that ran credit checks on people and reported to the IRS.

You may get some money back or (more likely) you will never see a dime but at least it will sit on her credit report and hopefully stop the next landlord from making the same mistake.

Is that 3% just a line item credited on the Loan Estimate as earnest money already paid ----even if it was say 2 years ago?

If affordable housing doesn’t make economic sense for a business that is where tax credits come in.

Once I scale up, how do I balance between getting approved and not hurting my credit score too much?

Should I raise capital event though there's creative ways to invest with no money and no credit (even though my credit is close to 800)?

Found a property, made offer and my first obstacle I encountered was when I checked online my credit score was 752, I thought good to go.

A good market for me includes at least 1Million population with low unemployment, good jobs, cheap houses and business friendly and fiscally responsible city / state (check their credit rating).

I used the CE shop which was fine, they also have specials frequently so I would wait until one of those pops up.