try to  get an idea  what lender (s)  has  made loans in the complex in the past few years and then contact them ...you might also  check with the smaller  to mid size banks and credit unions in  the  condos  area  as they may not be as concerned with this issue

I have already gone through the credit, income, and background check process.

Yet credit cycles are still hugely destabilising.”

I’m just starting out in my real estate career and as looking into doing a lease option for one of my properties.From my understanding, rental credits are a big no-no, as it makes the deal a financing agreement with equitable interest.My question is, for those deals where the initial option fee counts toward the purchase price of the house in the end, would that ever be considered a financing agreement since they are pre-paying so to speak?  

get tenants in at market rents or slightly below, build a track record, trailing 12 then refi at a lower interest rate with a regular bank loan.Make sure you cash flow with the terms/interest rate with a hard money lender.

My credit had dropped from high 700's to mid 500's after all the damage had been done.

My credit is average and I have about 13,000 in consumer debt.

I got a home equity line of credit and bought 5 or 6 more houses. 

I been doing rentals for nearly 40 years and have yet to credit tenants for this issue, and don't want to get into the habit of doing so.

The nice thing about Cozy is the credit/background check is really easy and the tenant pays for it with their own credit card.