So get to know your market.One option could be to lease purchase a fixer upper, from a credible investor in your area who could also connect you with a broker to help you get creditworthy in a yr or two.  

Nope never had a BK nor foreclosure/repo nor any ongoing delinquent accounts since they're now all settled, so I'll just let those negative entries get so old enough they no longer count much against my creditworthiness and while I won't 'borrow' to build my credit I'll still entertain getting a cell phone contract (right now i'm on prepaid).To me, assets/net worth is more important than credit.

When you purchase property in an LLC, the Lender has had the opportunity to vet the LLC as a "credit-worthy entity" for its own sake.  

The downside to a ballon payment are the fees associated with refinancing, as well as being able to qualify with proper creditworthiness.

The point is that it's in everyone's best interest for the tenant to be credit worthy enough to get a loan.

The amount of time that the funds need to be seasoned depends on the borrowers overall credit worthiness, but often 3 months is standard.  

Cash sales create no credit report or show no credit worthiness. 

Plus they get a very attractive rate of interest and a credit worthy borrower.

And honestly, being in the lending business every day, and looking at a ton of credit reports, your credit-worthiness goes beyond your scores.  

I have paid everything off and have been on time(credit card and auto payments) for a year to show my credit worthiness.