Was it credit, experience, ARV, or something else that stopped your funding? I see a lot of good projects miss out on financing just because they don’t fit the standard box. What’s been your experience?

I have about 10 years left before retirement, and I would like to build a reasonable 8 to 10 doors between now and then.

Are there scenarios where the letters alone generate sufficient ROI?

If your return for investing in another property is greater than 8.5%, than it would be beneficial to invest rather than pay off the debt (would want a sufficient cushion above 8.5% to justify the added risk and work of investing in another property vs simply paying off debt). 

Or developer could place one on the development for the primary reason to give the homewoners control over the well being of the development after the developer is long gone. 

The main reason is that it is not initially set up for a Real Estate business like other “real estate-specific” accounting software.

It seems like it should, in a reasonable world.

I do think having a sufficient emergency fund is vital before investing in anything (stocks, real estate, retirement accounts, etc).

Your lender, if they choose to fund without a Title V inspection, will typically require that you escrow sufficient funds to cover replacement of the septic system, should it fail inspection. 

I have another reason to thank Bigger Pockets for my financial well being.