Should eliminate the need for a second coat and hopefully cut your costs in half.

I wont say eliminated, but it may be a way for you to do deals while your credit is healing.

Confront PM's about your concerns day 1, you can't eliminate all, but you will have a better process of elimination. 

I just thought of this last night, but wouldn't this eliminate the bidding war issue? 

I also completely eliminated all of my other debts, I have no car loan, no credit cards, and no student loan debt.

Eliminate the carpet, I would use laminate or vinyl plank. 

For example, if it's under $100k, you may be able to offset $25k of it with rental losses.And what I just said is also incomplete because so many other factors can limit or even eliminate this tax break.

Just trying to learn as much as possible right now.I have thought about your idea before though to go with a higher monthly rate and eliminating the "finders fee".  

Today, even that modest requirement has been eliminated.

You can always refinance out of a mortgage down the road, in fact most people refinance every 5-10 years, and eliminate MI and the savings in doing so can payoff significantly.