Thanks - we have not secured financing yet....right now we're trying to figure out if we should secure on our own (wife and I) or secure through the LLC.Our worry is closing on this home and then losing the ability to purchase a home where we move (or the interest rate becoming jacked up due to that potentially being a "2nd home" in the lenders eyes.)

If the loan is a lower LTV and more standard terms then lenders can get more lax in requirements as their is security in other ways such as high DSCR, low leverage where loan is much less than current value of the property etc.

I'm in a different part of the country installing security systems.

If you don’t want to push the vacant at closing, you can put it back into the sellers hands Vacant at closing OR:Son of xxx provides signed lease (attached) for $xxx/mo plus $yyy security deposit at closing.

In Central FL, East Coast, Larger projects can be done for as low as 1.25 per sq ft install on vinyl plank or laminate (floating floor)... 1.50 is the regular rate. 

@John Warren will I need additional funds to secure the refi at the end of the period?

Think of all the things that could go wrong and see if the lease addresses them: unauthorized pets or tenants, early termination, security deposit, lease violations, late rent, eviction, lawn maintenance, parking, etc.5.

I recommend you put in 5% and the seller take a carry back note and you secure long term fixed rate financing (traditional).

Weekly stays beyond 28 days and you now have yourself a regular tenant.Same applies if you initially agree to anything more than 28 days, like accepting payment for and agreeing to let them stay a month.

First of all, non refundable pet fees make the tenants less caring about YOURproperty: refundable security deposit make them take care of the property to get it backThen, pet rent or any other rent is YOUR income - why would they pocket the money?