I was really looking for a house in Silver Lake or Echo Park, as we work in the Fashion District, so that will minimize drive time.I was really trying to buy our first house and look at it as an investment.

Will any "crowdfunding" sites allow you to raise funds for a SFR in this fashion?

I followed up on an offer via e-mail with an old fashioned phone call to a listing agent and got a 5% down offer accepted on a condo with no other units in the HOA going for less than 20% down that we could find within the last six months, just last month -- a phone call does amazing things.Also, you can't use Chase Bank for a purchase mortgage in the Bay Area.

, and even good old fashioned canvassing.

And in some instances if I felt it was appropriate I would help them file a BK so they could save their equity and sell in a timely fashion.. guess who they called when they were finally ready  LOL..good luck with it.

Shortcuts always come back to bite you in the *** in some fashion.

In a similar fashion, if you can imagine how much landscaping and underground infrastructure is in a golf course as compared to the clubhouse, that will give an indication of why an extremely high percentage of the property's value is allocated to the land improvements.

Plus the house has old fashion wiring, knob & tube?

You'll find it much easier to buy your 2nd and 3rd properties in a much more expedited fashion because you'll be banking a lot more of your take home pay.  

LOL, well I'm a pretty old-fashioned type.