all good advice, conway. the experts will tell you not to quit your job until you have reached financial security. thats true enough. however, there are exceptions to every rule. first of all, $30k is going to get you no where in nyc. i am sure you know that. however, $30k might get you a great start somewhere else. here in buffalo, prices are pretty good. the market is good, and $30k would get you far. usually starting out is hard and you would need a back up plan like having a job. but whose to say that you couldn't quit your job now, move elsewhere and get another job. you lasted 11 years as a temp so you have staying power. no one says you can't get another job, in another location, start investing and do both for a while. i say it is time for you to pull up your roots in nyc, go somewhere else, and replant yourself in a manner that YOU approve of. good luck to you

The root cause of Chicago's crime is it's crushing debt along with the State's crushing debt. 

You had a multitude here rooting for you and we still are.

Is the root cause the water table, ground slope, water pouring into the area from downspouts, a river rising?

For some reason, real estate is one of those career paths that people either love or hate.I think the root of it is the experience that their parents had with their primary residence. 

Look up turn-key rentals in states that you desire to put some REI roots down in.  

Rather, it's 100% rooted in the one thing that should never be a part of any responsible business decision - emotion.I've been buying post-foreclosure properties for several years, and my father before me for many years prior.

"roto-rooting") that will help for a while. 

Hi Hugo,From a fellow veteran, thank you for your service.I think you identified the root of the problem in your last paragraph, "The lender that I am using is one of the largest in the nation".These types of lenders are unable (or unwilling) to process anything out of the norm, for fear they will not be able to package and sell your loan on the secondary market.The fact that you understand the process and did your own due diligence with the VA makes this doubly frustrating.I have a lender here in Florida that I'm 90% certain could get this done for you.Shoot me a PM or an email and I'll make the connection.Thanks and good luck!

I am just trying to get to the root of why you want to change.If we break this down into smaller steps, getting started is well within your skills set.