I've also been fortunate and have rented some via word of mouth. 

They must pay a fortune for their dues over there.

Currently I’m reading the Fortune Builders seminar book and will be attending their seminar in Modesto, CA in Jan.

It looks that I may qualify on those grounds and also have the 15% on hand.As my plan B, it seems like I have the following options:i) home equity lineii) direct loan from the bank (fortunately, I have a good relationship with them and they seem willing)iii) loan against my 401k (max. $50k with an interest rate of 5.2% and no penalties for early payment) + own $$$.

I realize there are cost involved with selling but many of those are controllable to a certain extent (1039 or negotiating a lower commission with the realtor or even selling by owner) fortunately I do have a RE license but any way.

So I would say yes, it's landlord friendly.Prices have gone way up since we started investing 5 years ago, but we were fortunate to buy at the bottom of the market.

Example: my investors only have so much cash to buy with and its gonna cost a fortune to get this property up to code it's not worth the risk to my investors to give you what you're asking.

Unfortunately or fortunately, however you look at it, I think they are finding that their model is not working very well in this particular region of the country.  

I was fortunate to have the head of their education dept. teaching the class so he only gave us the info we absolutely needed and would use without all the extra fluff. 

Besides the the ones who own the factories or natural resources, many who have made fortunes have been the people who "sold shovels to gold miners".