Quote from @Drew Sygit: It's like first responders: people don't really care about what they do until they need them. 

Hoping to get help from like minded people.After lurking in the back ground for years, we recently started purchasing property in the greater Birmingham area.  

There are other ways to get your offer accepted that can be appealing to the buyers like non-refundable deposits, higher deposit amounts, shorter timelines and others.

If house-hacking is out of the question/you already own a primary at the very least, then that sounds like a pretty solid option/interest rate (although I might be able to beat that...).

Seems like your only option is to save up cash.

Like I said- just another issue to help you make up your mind.

It seems like a fine line.2) The long-term goal, among other things, is to create generational wealth.

I like @Chris Seveney and @Shiloh Lundahl's concept for a fast sale that you can do a lease option on.

Like others have mentioned, it depends on if you are owner occupied or not.

Many homes look like rentals in the area.