I’m a Michigander who relocated to the Wetumpka area permanently because of the great weather and affordability.

That would allow you to put down less knowing you have that income coming in.Otherwise, is it possible to consider moving somewhere more affordable so you can reach that financial freedom you want? 

Are you trying to afford a house much more expensive than your W2s could cover? 

I think you're on the right track with Lowell - that's consistently been one of the most affordable markets in the greater Boston area when you consider price to rent metrics.

For his first two years here he stayed in a rooming house, because he couldn’t afford his own house or apartment.After World War II this country “got rich”, affordable housing became plentiful as “the suburbs” were developed.  

I've been doing investment real estate for many years and the biggest way to get started is finding a commercial real estate market you can afford as the biggest hurdle.

There are some markets that will write both together and if affordable, that would the way I would recommend going.   

The only exceptions I can think of are a lack of experience frustrating your financing process or where the GC has such a well established brand that a buyer will pay a premium for a home built or renovated by that particular contractor.

A duplex or SFH purchased around that time would likely have appreciated by 5-10%, depending on the neighborhood, and rents in Oceanside and Carlsbad have continued to rise steadily, offering a solid ROI.One client I worked with last year ran into similar frustrations with bidding wars.

If the tenants can't afford it, let them move out and find a new renter willing to pay what it's worth.