Thank you very much to Josh Dorkin & Brandon and to everyone who has helped make this site a tremendous resource for someone in my shoes!  

If I were in your shoes, I would recommend renting or saving up more money and moving somewhere you find more comfortable.

If you had the money, would you open a shoe store without knowing much about shoes?

I would be frustrated in your shoes too since it sounds like you put in a ton of work and want to be rewarded fairly for that in the appraisal. 

Try to put yourself in their shoes, while you are looking for loopholes, they will also look for ways to prove you wrong, and since they deal with these everyday, I suggest that you don't take it lightly and hire a professional.

With your financing plan, if I was going to find the financing for you or in your shoes, that's the route I'd look to go first - SBA 504 and then if not able for whatever reason, I'd go local bank. 

Jump in with a great pair of shoes.

Would love to see myself in your shoes in 10 yrs from now!

If I were in your shoes, I'd buy a multi, fha, and live there for a year and do it over again.

Have shoe covers available in a basket at the front door.