Any advice on leaving these big ticket items alone just because they work? 

(average year round temperature is 65 degrees, never too hot or too cold)  It's a beautiful place to live and visit.

@Isaiah WrightI haven't done a seller financed deal yet, but I've been doing obsessive research in the past couple weeks.This pros of this purchasing strategy are that the terms are negotiable, and you can get away with putting low or no money down in exchange for a favorable interest rate and sale price to the owner.

My wife and I live in Round Rock, TX a suburb of Austin but I work in Houston during the week, currently I'm using Airbnb for my accommodations.

I'll make them a cash offer faster than they can get a ticket to Hawaii! 

I just shop and shop and when a first class ticket comes up that I can use my status for free upgrade I grab it.. :) 

@Ryan GriffinHi Ryan,It's obvious that they only earn enough to live "Paycheck to Paycheck", which is why they rent vs own.Paycheck to Paycheck renters can be suddenly short on money due to an unexpected (unaffordable expenses, car repair etc... or other personal issue such as a traffic ticket, missing work do to being sick or hurt, etc...).Some people will spin stories to string you along (because they have to--to avoid losing a place to live and further complicating their life's problems).So goes the rental business.Good Luck!

If you were to look at a duplex you could get away with 10% down as long as you occupy.

A 220 mile round trip is going to be a tough sell to the underwriters.

Had about 6k in Taxes 500 in blight tickets and 3k in water.