At the end, getting money back is the surprise I have always liked instead of the alternative.

@Enrique MoralesWhat you need is a self-directed IRA, this vehicle allows alternative investments, including real estate, trust deeds, and much, much more!

Or alternatively, leveraging the W2 job of a partner while you work on real estate is another solution.

Texas, too, has tried to seduce companies away from California.The difference in cost of living and taxes and close proximity make Arizona a nice alternative for these migrating Californians, particularly if they're from Southern California.

I had been searching BP for a while for alternatives to quit claims, quiet title or Tax title services and haven’t found anything for tax auction properties.

You could explore alternative funding sources.

If they don't sell they are also more open to alternative options that you can provide.Hope that helps,Chris Pre

In the alternative, you can downgrade as someone on this thread suggested and use the extra money as a down payment or you could save for the down payment the old fashion way by putting money aside each month.   

The only alternative to inflating it away is a global reset which I'm skeptical of despite pundits who throw the idea around. 

Roths are a great alternative to traditional college savings programs.