I need to figure out a diplomatic way to insist that their child view the video before scheduling an in-person visit. 

Ever since the mortgage crisis, the traditional banks seem really reluctant to give out loans around here unless they have 2 solid years of tax returns tied directly to the owner of the property. 

Some excellent reading on the history of the cities troubles is "Origins of the Urban Crisis" by Thomas Sugrue - it's really a must-read primer on the relationship between the city and suburbs if you have any passing interest in Detroit.Anyway, that's probably more than 2 cents worth.

CA never misses an opportunity to raise the costs of housing and then they try to figure out why there's such a housing crisis. 

They learned from the last savings and loan crisis of the 90's and do not want to repeat.If you have a large quantity of money at a local bank they might push it to a seven year term because of the relationship but it will be a committee call.

Usually a crisis gives a bounce to the Pres. happened with Carter too but it didn't go well for him.

I could have written that 30 years ago, had there been pc's, an internet and BiggerPockets.When I graduated in CA in '81 with my RE degree, interest rates, unemployment, and inflation were all in the 15-20% range, the S&L crisis was in full bloom, and I spent a good part of my senior year doing research projects for the local landlord association on how to defeat the local rent control initiative.After graduation, everyone said, "you wanna do what?

I'm just getting back into buy and hold real estate after getting burned during the 2008 financial crisis.

Banks and credit unions have the same strict standards these days since the mortgage crisis of 2008.What you need is a direct mortgage lender like New American Funding and the like who have looser criteria and rules.You will need to show decent income over the last two tax returns and what you currently bring in monthly

Scranton's fiscal crisis has pushed the property taxes up.