I often consider if instead of dumping $1000 here or a $1000 there into some pistons, supercharger, exhaust, etc and put it in a S&P500 tracking mutual fund how my life - financial or otherwise - might have been different.But then, in that same breath, I often think of how perhaps everything happened exactly as it is supposed to in my life.  

Hi Frankie,That's an option for sure though I want to exhaust my options in this area before I  expand my radius.

But I'd suggest that the real answer is:(d) All of the above.I don't think you need to spend days or weeks compiling an exhaustive buyers list.  

This has been exhausting!

Much of the time, you will need 20 percent down payment which could exhaust your entire capital reserve (down payment loan for your friend).

I read the whole thread, uh...I'm exhausted.

I am active in a few markets, as well as well connected into the St Cloud and surrounding market, with that I can share that here in the St Cloud market we are very... protective and private, mostly out of exhaustion and frustrations of being badgered by 101 non-active tire kicking wanna-b's who ask a million questions, have little to no respect of our time, and do little to nothing. 

What would a minimum amount be needed to get started with reasonable confidence that expenses beyond purchase price won't exhaust the account.

My goal is to exhaust my family funds over the next couple years and by then have built an excellent credit score and income (: so that I would at that point be able to switch over to conventional financing for future expansion. 

I am exhausted just thinking about what you achieved in one year.You should congratulate yourself, but also take time to de-stress.