Also, maxed out cards are bad for your credit score, potentially impacting your future ability to obtain a loan(mortgage) on good terms.Consider the alternative- a 20% down payment with that sort of coin could land you a house which sells for $150k.

Every good borough has its less desirable area (next to sewage treatment perhaps) and every bad area has its safer portions. 

Investment options in such a plan would not be limited to stocks/mutual funds and you will be able to invest into variety of alternative investments. 

That said, they do asset-based financing which seems like a good alternative.

Many investors from countries where currency is strong, are considering international real estate opportunities as a viable alternative.

Minus the $14.4k that I would spend on the alternate to rent, and I come to $82.6k additional cash needed during the two years.

You calculate an opportune time to sell for your alternative investment property.

Definitely great information to use here for starters, even seasoned vets looking at alternative ways for financing.  

I've looked into alternative nitrogen reducing systems (such as Bio-Microbics MicroFAST) which look promising, but I can't count on them. 

If they don't like the look of the deal they will tell you and likely ask for larger down payment   If the bank isn't willing to lend the money and you have good credit then you might want to reconsider the deal.....I am not a believer of hard money loans as an alternative personally so if banks says no I'll walk away