I have two owner carry properties, and soon to have a third.First of all my properties are free and clear. 

The vast majority of buyers are not real, being someone who has already closed on property purchases carries a lot of weight.Good luck, I think you’ll do well

Buying vacant commercial space without a specific plan is kind of risky because you possibly have to hold it vacant for long periods of time and carry the expenses. 

Real estate, like any investment, carries risk,  but at the end of the day these risks are just a line item, with various degrees of success based on the due diligence you put into each one.     

It's possible that they mean that they don't want to carry owner financing, but you should clarify that.Be sure that you buy owner's title insurance too. 

We become like a third world country that is cash and carry.

@Robert Walston The lender I just gave the "green light" to get pre-qual'd mentioned putting 20% down to help lower the monthly payment, but I didn't really question it, as I don't plan on doing that if not required.But something that did catch me off guard was that he suggested I might need to show the (income) ability to carry the entire note, as if there were no tenants.This may not be difficult for a duplex but a 3-4 unit would be.

This method usually carries the least risk.  

Thanks @Carrie Hiner, @Kris Wong and @James Cook!

It is not logical that we could be in business for over 10 years (in the same city even), employing the number of people we do, carrying all of the business overhead that comes with running a large enterprise,  being vetted by the number of accredited investors who choose to put their capital to work with us etc. if the business model was charging $3000 to as many people as possible and then purposefully turning down their loans.