Heck, you process debit cards if you insist for 1/10th the cost and non-reversible. 

Angel investors might be interested, but you'll likely have to give up a portion of the ownership or future profits, and there could be potential complications in managing the investor's expectations and involvement.

This lowered my cost basis per lot by 7k.

Thank you for putting it out there and potentially saving someone else in the future. 

I want to be able to find potential markets/listings nationally based on the return. 

Depending on what the potential jobs offer in terms of income, does this seem like a realistic strategy?

While living in a high-cost area can present challenges, it also opens doors to creative strategies, like investing out of state or leveraging partnerships.

Refinancing has more nuances than it seems, and so do closing costs.

While under contract, we perform due diligence and there will be some soft costs incurred. 

Never invest in any city on this list of the 50 most dangerous US cities.Low operating costs: High operating costs are one of the driving factors for many companies, leaving states with high taxes, regulations, and other costs.