However to afford limited liability protection and creation of a registered entity the Govt.

Of course I don't expect potential renters to bring the deposit & first month with them when they come to look at the house, but once someone has looked at the house, said they like it and that it meets their needs, and the price is affordable to them, and I have pre-screened them through the in-house application, I expect action or I am going to move forward as if they never existed. 

We got pretty frustrated.  

I'm having difficulty deciding what my primary game plan is, because I'm in a situation where I don't think I can afford the area I live in, but I still want to keep my options open.

I was at first frustrated that a wife asked me what color I was going to stain the deck.

If you can start searching that area you'll find more affordable houses.  

I've seen very many posts here on BP from foreign nationals on how different (and often frustrating) the US banking system is, compared to their own.

I can afford to do one of those, but not both.I think my best move is to rent out my condo ASAP, and move into a temporary rental myself, so I can begin my rental income history ASAP.  

It has been frustrating to constantly hear No when each of these sellers wanted to sell and had houses that needed a bunch of work!

Union city is still relatively affordable and very close to NYC..