People forget that a big employer here, Scott & White, have many employees that need homes to rent or buy while working on their residency or starting their practice in medicine. 

This creates a precarious situation where employment is tenuous or it could also be that employment is fine and plenty of it within a short driving distance but if the majority of your population are renting it's fair to say that they are transient and most likely do not have any vested interest in the community or general appearance. 

The only snag I think you will run into is the history of employment, so that may only be of help in the future.As far as no money down goes, it is real but you have to find an investor and be able to prove to them that you can make them money with the money they are giving you.

Although the Frauds Act requires that any contract for the sale of land be in writing, it contains no such requirement with regard to real estate brokers’ contracts of employment or the commissions derived from them.

There are a couple of large employers  American Family Insurance in the area that bring in a lot of people on work visas for high paying jobs.

or a Personal Reference person (as noted on his rental application) or an Employer (also noted on his rental application) or anyone else who may be able to relay a message to him?

After receiving our discharge in March 2013 we bounced back quite nicely-we're both employed and making more money than before, our FICO scores are back to 680 and we have about $10K in the bank.  

Like you, I had coverage for 25 years through my employer (municipal government).

It's in a small high end subdivision on a new cul-de-sac that's already paved, but there are about 10 new lots and none are built on yet in that section.

I just hope my tenants stay employed.