Several of the contractors offer helical piers but don’t seem to think they’d be a more cost effective option - we can directly ask about this again.  

(Especially a 2-4 unit.)Do they have friends/relatives/co-workers that would rent rooms from them if they bought a property to show more income?

Endless options for sure.  

If this is a "store bought" fire place (not a wood stove) then usually only processed presto logs are appropriate because they burn at a constant speed and keep the heat down.  

Only time they really get bought is buy a novice who thinks they can turn them into something, only for them to later find out that it's cost prohibitive.

The “borrower” would have an option to buy back the property if (1) all lease payments (“mortgage payments”) have been made and the borrower/seller pays is the sale price/loan amount in full at the time the option period/note matures.  

I'm an investor and mortgage broker and have options for loans that go as low as $75,000 and down payments as low as 15%, which makes it easier to stay above $75,000.

FHA gets a bad rap because sellers and many agents think it's only for people who don't have the money so if I had 20 percent, but wanted to use FHA, I would present a proof of funds with my offer showing I have more money, but am using the FHA as a financial option so I can get an investment property as well somewhere else.

@Seidy Lasker Wash sale rules apply to stock options if they are deemed "substantially identical" to a security sold at a loss within 30 days, such as options with similar expiration dates or strike prices.

Foreign national DSCR loans are a popular option!