When he started investing, interest rates where not artificially low so there was no contest and stocks was the better alternative.

Unless you're in a place to do a 1031 exchange (which can have higher transaction costs, depending on the situation), there likely is a significant amount of capital gains to pay upon sale of a property for reinvesting, or if investing in alternate markets like stocks, bonds, CDs, etc. 

Alternatively, they can boondock (without hookups) and you can rent portapotties. 

Maybe it's because they're looking for alternatives and it's $1500 vs $47.I also don't "overhype or overpromise". 

Marketing it as an MTR might be a good alternative so long as Sacramento doesn't also regulate MTRs.

Just looking for alternatives.  

I am really trying to find a route alternative to that under the impression that loans are not assumable on average.

You can use alternate financing (assumed loan, sub-to, owner financed, etc).  

An alternative if you wanted to keep it rent neutral would be to stipulate payments on the 1st and 15th of the month, which would give you an even 24 payments over the year. 

Alternatively, would it be better to continue purchasing new homes with each move (approximately every 3 years) to gradually build my portfolio?