I have had a few transactions with significant hard earnest money that the buyer walked away from and did not close.When Phoenix was a white hot real estate market in the very early years of this century, people were putting up S100,000 non refundable deposits to purchase condominiums that hasn't been built yet.Conversely, by strange circumstance I found myself owner of a vacant, unattractive, small, poorly conditioned house in a rough area in a smallish Texas town just after the 2007 - 2008 financial meltdown.  

I live in a small agriculture community (population 1200 with an average income of $40000 per household.

This will make your name a household name in that area and they will call on you to sell their home, or buy in that area if that rent a place within that community.

US household median income in year 2017 is $59,000.US median house price in March 2018 is $250,400.

I didn't plan on keeping much of the old furniture and other household "stuff", which means the place will be fully furnished without spending much.2.

I also like Out of State owners (which you can find  at the courthouse), contacting households that have had recent divorces, and pretty much anything that implies either motivated sellers and/or people you can negotiate with.

I don't know your family situation or how many people are in your immediate household, but you could potentially get a small multi unit as John has suggested and add to your income. 

We would have to both apply since I believe my income is what will get us the loan (about $75k household income).Prior this, we have great credit and employment history in Canada, but I'm unsure if any of this matters to a US bank.

I live in Charlotte NC and my salary from the rat race exceeds the median household income for the area.

I am a father of almost 2 (having the second baby in 2 months) and I am the only one supporting the household.