. - Finally, I called my own inspections and eventually got the final Green tag!

He said "yes, the gutters got loose, so I took them off and nailed them back with longer nails, and it took him two days work".

(5) and finally, do you all have recommendations for loan agents / officers who can help us think through what would be the optimal path for us given our situation?

I think you have a good hand of cards on this if all you state is accurate.One final note, if you have photo or video evidence of the condition of the unit upon starting, that too is one more feather in your cap.

We've got a tenant who we got evicted finally after being almost $4,000 behind. 

Also – side note, I have been a bigger pockets fan for 3 years now and it has motivated my wife and I to FINALLY purchase our first investment property last year.

@Dominick GalinisWow both of the above guys nailed it...I was gonna say something similar but they did it better!

Other people on these forums would slit their wrists if the unit failed to provide enough free cash flow and they could care less about principal reduction and appreciation.The 5%/45%/50% figures I heard from Matt Faircloth here:  And Brandon Turner described expenses being about 50% for a rental property in this video, though he included vacancy as part of the 50%:And I agree that you can't lean on these percentages in making your final purchase evaluation; you have to have the final numbers quantified.

I was finally able to purchase a house for my family so I have 3 total.

I was finally able to purchase a house for my family so I have 3 total.