A couple agents that work at my brokerage also have other employment.

The analysis is beyond the scope of this post, but if you email or contact me directly I can do one for you and let you know if it works.The other widely used method to determine if your paying too much or not is to use the comparable approach and find the average price per unit value for that market and submarket.

My LOIs usually have 3 methods of buying, with escalating price points that I would be willing to do. 

Another notable point is that the owner now owns the deed free and clear so there is no outstanding mortgage obligation to her.The last thing is that the building had been on the market for over a year and was originally listed for 149K and she has been methodically reducing the list price by 10K every 3 months.  

You get more rent If the voucher holder is employed and they take better care of your property That's all you need to do to make money in C markets.

You might be able to get a non-conforming loan with higher rate and down payment, but that would be dependent on your past employment and earning history.Upen Patel, Mortgage BankerFederal NMLS# 1374243

I decided the shrink was right and I made some major changes in my life, including a divorce and - more recently - I parted ways with my employer.  

Denise, that credit score will go a very long way from a bank's perspective so kudos to you for getting it up that high, FIS (Fair Isaac Score) is a lender's number 1 determination for a qualified candidate, after that your income and debt to income ratio, payment history, employment status, etc. will go into play.

Are there any other employers in this area?

Yes, you can use it, but you'll likely need 2 years of tax returns for your self-employed income for it to count (if you're trying to get a conventional loan).