I have a background in construction and I have a construction management degree from the UW.

You need two years of income history or recent college degree with employment, and about 4% cash of the sales price in checking/savings for 1-2 units.

If you truly are as liberal as you say, then you have a very high degree of common sense.

They all seem to have a high degree of integrity.If you're wondering about my level of experience, I used to invest in real estate in NC.

(Sorry, my dear Friendly Fairbankians), most people won't spend money to go to Fairbanks and eat frozen moose when it's 40 degrees below zero.

Air conditioning in a climate where there is more than 30 days at 99 degrees a small add. 

entire, it's on the hill side, i would say maybe 5-10% degree ?

A more streamlined approach, which still offers a significant degree of protection, would involve grouping properties by state under separate LLCs, as I did.As you delve deeper into real estate investment, you may also want to explore syndications and private placements.

I don't claim to have a crystal ball to give a time frame, but I think in the next 7 years we should experience a better market (at least to some degree), giving you a chance to refinance into lower rates if you wish.No point in locking in a 30-year fixed when the rates aren't incredible to begin with.

Two parting thoughts - your real estate and finance degrees are not going to help you.