I must note at this point that I was ultimately forced to put down a 25% deposit, due to being married to a non-SA citizen - the lender insisted on this due to some rather restrictive immigration laws in SA. 

I will however also be talking to a portfolio lender and last time I spoke to them they wanted a tonne of information, so I reckoned I'd put together a proposal that would answer all their questions.It may sound strange that I'd be talking to a portfolio lender for only my second purchase, but I have a few unique circumstances that make me a little less loved by the major banks - I'm a South African working outside the country and married to a non-South African citizen...probably more than anyone would care to know about me, but I thought I'd clear that up before I get questioned.Anyway, thanks again for the input, I will go with Ken's advice and write something up.

Here is a scenario I'm looking at in Los Angeles County, and hoping to find a win-win scenario to step in as an investor to help out this guy out: High equity owner ($800k+), senior citizen, living off of social security with 4 mortgages as follows:1st) $12K2nd) $250K3rd) $30K4th) $20KThe 1st and the 2nd are on the brink of foreclosure (60+ days), and the 3rd and the 4th are personal 'loans' secured by a deed of trust in the county records.

At the same time, I would like to assist a senior family member in getting them a place to stay with a payment no more than $1,000/m.

“Ultimately, inflation is still the most menacing issue in the economy right now,” said Sarah House, senior economist at Wells Fargo Economics.

Section 8 or not.. its pretty amazing the amount of US citizens that we house as tax payers who simply will basically never work.. and just live off of those that work..And then the investors that come in and profit on these situations....

Hi, I'm not sure where to put this post, I'm looking for either some advice or a Portland Oregon metro area real estate/financial advisor for seniors for my grandmother.

It is very slim pickings right now, Citizens is the only option for many people.

Go to as many open houses as you can, offer to help senior agents.  

Few young people stay, and there is a large percentage of seniors and the disabled.