I would do a bit more research on the rental price ($3,400 does seem low for a SFH in the Campbell) or try to refi/pull equity out. 

Naturally we would love to be able to utilise credit and leverage along with a lump sum however we're stuck with just the lump sum for now.

I was wondering if I should switch to natural gas or electric baseboard or just hang on to oil?

Eventually we found a 3 bed 2 ba just a few mins away from our home and got it.( both are not scary, lol and this is where Ive found my next deals)For financing we had pulled out the 83k from our residence but needed to figure out the financing for the purchase.

You need (1) access to equity capital (do not rely on being able to get debt... lenders will hate real estate again) and (2) the intestinal fortitude to pull the trigger when it seems like things could keep going down and (3) more cash than you think to hold hold hold....     

A dispute files on 4/4 (89 days after 1/5) would be able to pull all those payments back and it's up to the landlord to prove they were valid...with only a signed lease.

Wish I knew this information ahead of time I was shopping for a Vehicle to see what kind of payment they could work out for me and some places ran my credit and didn't even ask me i didn't know they ran it till they said "I just pulled your credit" my credit dropped 100+ points in a 5 day period wrecking my credit looking for the right vehicle and payment plan. 

(primary residence)  We want to pull the trigger on buying our first rental property but I need to decide on a course of action for the down payment. 

It is currently cedar siding but is starting to show its age.I just refinanced the house to pay off my partner so that is not an option to pull money out.What do you guys think is the best possible way to pay for siding without coming out of pocket for?

Me , I would bring my tractor with a loader , wrap a chain around the pole and pull them out faster than you could cut them .DO NOT let them cut them at ground level , the cut makes very sharp edges , someone in bare feet would get cut bad .