It can also be safer to diversify your investment properties across the country. 

Keep in mind if the description/pictures show the home needed a lot of work, then the price will be lower than normal, and alternatively, if the description/pictures show the home was completely renovated, then the price would be on the upper end.

But yeah its less than security deposit but safer.

You'd collect the income you'd need to collect, and the property would appreciate just fine as well due to its prime location.But here's another alternative.

Also I recommend setting up an alternative email so your main email isn't getting blown up with properties and events.

Could you advice on alternative ways to invest in real estate in the US without using TK's?

I have been looking at alternative routes to purchase investment properties and can't figure out the best way to do so. 

I can borrow a very small amount from my 401(k) at 2.25% interest for a down payment or purchase, but given how hot my local market has been that won't get me very far until I can learn some alternative strategies.  

Alternatively, it's a rate bump of about 0.375% to 0.75%, depending on the weather, on top of the standard investment property bump.

Alternatively, I could "buy the place for exactly what's owed," or have my mom "assign" the loan to me, then take out an equity loan against the place to give to my sister as a downpayment, and I can pay off that equity loan with the rental income as well as pay back my mom's $300k.