There are numerous federal laws concerning pricing of goods and services in an open market environment.

BTW, in this rate environment, I have been paying 6%, but I have many references and haven't missed a payment ever.  

I love the built environments, so my other idea was architecture, but I didn't want to spend long hours in the design studio.

Since I was always a poor student, and didn't enjoy the classroom environment I took did my licensing classes online, and I enjoyed it.

If you could build for $100 a ft excluding land and financing, it would cost $100k to build a 1,000 sq ft, you can still buy houses in these markets for less than that, and when you consider land, financing and profit - the houses are too expensive to be profitable vs buying and rehabbing a  even in a low inventory environment.

FHA offers less strict net worth requirements but they are in most cases not suitable for the acquisition of an existing property in the current market environment since it takes months (typically 6+) to close them due to extensive due diligence requirements.

However, you are in precisely the right environment to find it!!

I'm looking to take advantage of an internship program at a local university that looks to place students in a "startup environment" as part of their course credit.

Or is someone who knows the area and investing environment interested in meeting for lunch to talk about your home town?

Now owners still might sell to someone for little down if they have very,very deep pockets already.If someone has little money, okay credit, and wants zero to little down do not expect a broker or agent to put any time into that in today's environment.