Layer on the ability to invest the funds that otherwise would go towards the down payment and transactional costs and you likely come out ahead in such a short term horizon renting.

Your credit at risk and might affect your ability to buy a home in the future. 

It was hard to find anything that cash flowed enough to make it worth it to us, and I personally prefer to have the ability to manage my properties myself.We decided to pivot into business acquisition.

While others above have highlighted the ability to purchase a property with 0% down, there is one large stipulation: you must purchase a property as a primary residence.

Originally posted by @Chris Seveney:@Charles RobbinsI would say the ability to get a note and mortgage to acquire a home has helped a lot more people than it has hurt.

Adding the ability to have an electric dryer adds minmal value to your property.....most people buy gas because it's cheaper to run.

If there's a family member or friend in a similar situation, and you can both align on the initial plan (location, home type, price, usage/occupancy, etc) you can pretty easily get a co-ownership agreement in place and even a joint mortgage.The benefit here is it might open up your ability to buy a larger place in a nicer area which could lead to a faster rate of appreciation and overall better living environment. 

Consider looking for a large single-family home with the ability to add more rooms or bathrooms, then rent it out by the room. 

You may have more ability if you have any previous 401k's from previous employers?

Quote from @Kevin Robert Highgate: The ability to invest in property and replace your W2 income quickly is tough.