There is only the measure of your intent.  

Interest rates can get tricky with the various methods of measurement and knowing how exactly they all differ.

That income/liability measurement is important on a permanent financing transaction but not on a Hard Money Loan.  

But does it really come down to extreme measures to find a mentor?

And 36 Other Key Financial Measures, Updated EditionAnd if you are interested in multi family:Larry LoftisInvesting in Duplexes, Triplexes, and Quads: The Fastest and Safest Way to Real Estate WealthLet me know if I can do anything else to help.

I think it's a good policy, not because I'm a GC and think people should be forced to use me but because it provides a measure of protection to the end buyer of the home that the work was performed by a licensed and duly qualified person.

If I didn't have that I'd probably not measure risk at all and get my head taken off.

According to my mortgage broker, there are many alternate lenders which will allow 10% borrowed down payment.There are a few more stringent factors, I wasn't able to find any alternate lenders in smaller communities, and they were not willing to lend on properties which are not readily habitable (undergoing or in the midst of construction, "refreshing" the property was fine)Rates are also higher.

ALL it measures is the market value of a NOI.   

I never depreciate properties held in my own name as, for me, it is always a temporary measure before they are rolled into a holding company and I do not wish to deal with the CCA recapture.For properties held in a corporation, I have yet to experience that ... perhaps the lenders expect real estate holding companies to take all possible deductions (given they are paying at the top marginal tax rate)?