Carrie, I understand your frustration, however the city owns the utility in my area and as the utility has the responsibility to follow city ordinance.

I am working with a big law firm to have a few borrows submit loan applications to major banks and see if the underwrites will take the bait and approve the borrows that cannot afford a home.

Some think landlords have deep pockets and can afford to wait.

You plain and simply can't afford this now so how are you going to be able to afford it in a year.

With the mortgage on the house we are living in (our first home), we can afford something max of 50-60K (down payment + standard mortgage).

All kinds of agreements can be reached in RE related areas as well.We also kick around many legal aspects of RE in the forums, financing issues, landlord-tenant law, title issues and other things that can get you in trouble if you're ill advised.Most in RE that I see on BP are new, I'd have to say getting legal advice in forums is a big mistake, while we may have seasoned investors who have been doing things for years, we all fail to keep in mind at times that all RE is local.Most seek advice as they seem to think they can't afford an attorney.

You need to experience some of the frustrations as well as the rewards and then determine if you can make a living on straight commission.

I am looking to get into something large enough to afford professional management and onsite personnel.

A lack of financing options didn't make the plan work out at this time though.Instead, my wife and I are thinking the first place we buy should be local and would purchase a multi-unit house, duplex, triplex, etc. in a fairly affordable neighourhood right in Vancouver.Any advice for someone trying to make a wise decision in the overly expensive Vancouver?

Section 8 can be good as long as your unit passes the program's housing quality standards, but with all that student debt she'll certainly need some supplemental under the table income, if she makes too much on the books she'll lose that voucher and possibly not be able to afford the unit anymore..