Our credit is not good due to a layoff about 3 years ago that devastated our finances, so we are unable to get a mortgage.

At this point, my only suggestion is that you lay off your daily dose of COPS and open your eyes to the real world.  

I don't think this is directly attributable just to the oil market (and all the recent lay-offs) yet, but that isn't going to help.Out in your neck of the woods (Wasilla) they've built over 300 multi-family units in the last year.

They will cease to issue as many vouchers, lay off staff, stop allowing exceptions to the FMR for tenants with special needs, etc. but the rules governing payments and their calculation are in stone.

Interestingly the tech layoffs that have occurred (AirBnB, Intuit, godaddy, lyft, uber) have largely impacted employees outside the Bay Area and not local employees as much.Also if you read the news the IPO market and the tech M&A markets are very strong to enable startups to exit.

C'mon guys, lay off her. 

Oh right - I have no money, and if I had the money to buy a community, I certainly don't have the credit (I had lost my job at one point, and with the layoff and loss of income went the good credit..

Surpassed the two year mark successfully which was a new milestone for me given the prior layoffs, ha. 

Have him/her walk through the numbers so both of you can see exactly how things happen, how investments are protected, where the profits come from and how the risks are mitigated.All investments involve risk, and a lot of folks will choke on that.Even W2 situations involve the risk of layoff and other job loss - your income is NEVER under your control, you are always at the mercy of someone else and their abilities.You CAN take control of your own financial situation.

One layoff and you just ate a bill for a year long eviction.