We can help you with purchase, any level of rehab, property management and sales.

Yes... go ahead and argue it is a reassignment, but at the base level you acted as a middleman for the transaction.

My credit is good and I'm making payments, but just not enough to bring the ratio to a level that is deemed "worthy" to a traditional lender.

Large, desireable metro areas with high incomes like Boston have exceeded peak levels, and other areas have not.  

I don't like that on a personal level and I don't like that as an investor owner occupier. 

It is a very competitive market and like all markets has many opportunities for investors at all levels.

I see the way you're doing it and that seems like the next level of specificity we'd be running prospective properties through if we actually were to go check them out.

This all depends on what your current skill level is and how you want to use your license (personal investing vs career change).

Honestly, I agree with them on many levels but my personal financial situation couldn't afford those areas at that time.

Having a house with a yard is a huge plus in my mind so while I think you will get pinched a bit (rent flat to down 10% or longer vacancies of 1-2 months), there will always be a demand for entry level house rentals.