There are 3 main nationwide lenders - 21st Mortgage, CU Factory Built, and Triad.Vanderbilt is another that handles Clayton manufactured homes.You can get them free to $30k and up, depending on age and condition.

Income versus debt was huge factor. I

An X factor is that we would consider buying and holding for a few years during which time I could stay in/ airbnb the 1st floor apt. and rent out the 4 bd owner's suite.  

I will be in your area, Bozeman, in the fall, and Milwaukee around thanksgiving (I chose these long before real estate planning was a factor). I

(I know, but it happens)Analyze their credit report and if you feel comfortable, do a background check and make sure their criminal history checks out.Another key factor is employment history.

It is clear that the presence of all of these factors would compel the conclusion that a sale has occurred; moreover, since a single factor is not controlling, the absence of any of them would not compel the conclusion that a sale had not occurred.

Well now I'm ready to fire my 10-12 hour factory job, and pursue this thing called real estate as a business.

If you bought it at 72k, even if you update it, but everything around you is being sold for 75k, that is in no way a good deal, yeah, you got a good discount from listing, but that is not a factor. I

(Whether to let debt ride or pay it off)....One key factor is the rate..

The biggest savings I have noticed in closing is in appraisals and lender fees, but there are still some lender fees when you refi, so it's not a huge deal either way and shouldn't be the deciding factor. I