Other than confirming the permitting which you noted, I don’t know that there’s much else you could have done.  

They don’t charge anything for these extra accounts, my tenants pay directly into those accounts.

The optimal amount can depend on factors such as the unit's age, systems, and forecasted repairs or upgrades.Additionally, some investors set aside an extra 10-20% of rent to cover maintenance, capital expenditures, and potential vacancies, in addition to their cash reserves.

No extra time, no new payment plans. 

Biggest things are finding the right location, getting the permits sorted, and setting up solid house guidelines from day one.

If I did it over again, I would have done a 30 year and used the extra cash to invest faster. 

When I realized that the cost of financing that extra $25,000 was minuscule, it was a helpful lesson.in your particular case, if you are able to qualify for a low down payment loan of 3%, 5%, 10% etc, the numbers may end up working better than you expect.Hope this helps!

Quote from @Zachary Ware: A PadSplit can be very heavy in CF but be careful if you are renovating a house and adding extra rooms.

If you’re just pulling cash without a clear plan or strong numbers then yeah you’re taking on extra risk.It’s less about timing the market and more about making sure the math works with today’s payments. 

Creative Structures Portfolio DSCR loans: bundling multiple rentals into one loan to smooth DSCR across the pool.Interest reserves on value-add rentals: lets investors finance rehab, stabilize, and then refi once DSCR improves.Seller carry + DSCR combo: layering a small seller second behind a DSCR loan when the lender permits, reducing cash in.