The sad part is that even though you are experienced and have a history of success, it is very difficult to find a lender willing to take a chance, even though in 99% of the cases... you only need 100% financing on the very first one.I hope you find a long term, multiple deal lender willing to take a chance with you on that first one...Good luck...John Rogers

SYP is much "harder" than say eastern or white pine.  

Would the Harris County Tax Assessor website show those tax payments in the history or no?

If you're planning to screen your prospective tenants yourself, I highly suggest that you conduct a thorough screening, which would include a background and criminal check, credit check, eviction history check, and income check. 

“It will result in the exact opposite of what we’re trying to do.”Landlords’ associations objected to the bill in the weeks leading up to the vote on similar grounds, saying that adding more than a week to eviction periods would cause property owners to risk missing their own mortgage and utility payments.Along with extended wait times, the bill also proposes giving new power to judges, who would be allowed to temporarily block evictions based on factors including the tenant’s payment history and whether they had made a good-faith effort to pay.A summary of the Washington eviction bill Extends the 3-day notice for default in rent payment to 14 days’ notice for tenancies under the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act.Requires the 14-day notice to be written in plain language and include information on civil legal aid resources available, if any, to the tenant.Extends the mandatory notice period from 30 to 60 days when landlords propose a rent change amount.

Really want the place etc.HOWEVERI then start digging into the details going through their credit and background check, eviction history. 

That is a better determinant than rental history or stated intentions.If you do owner financing, which probably is a bad idea, use an RMLO and loan servicer. 

>have an income history of less than 2 years.I want to be able to compete with cash buyers, so a HELOC would be ideal, but am I maybe overlooking some other financing?

Checks don't expire, so my thought would be they have a bad banking history so aren't able to pay through their bank. 

Hi Christopher,Vet the tenant for all other things than income "Drugs" Criminal history", and whatever else you vet for.Good Luck!