I am self-employed, but have been for 7 years and annual income is modest but consistent.

Banks like consistency over time, which is one reason a 12 month lease is important.Private money is an option, but as mentioned is more expensive, and at least in my experience tends to be 12 month money.I would keep shopping around. 

They will not provide the $5,000 grant and won’t provide any financing consistent with a primary residence.

These homes range from 3000sf to 3600sf and each have finished walkout daylight basements and these sold homes have recently and consistently sold at $220/sf.

Recognize filling your vacancies as a major aspect of your REI business success and deal with it quickly and efficiently every time.Do your best to find quality tenants.

Then you may have to report it.I don't do STRS, yet, but the hospitality aspect has a higher expectation, higher liability, and a higher profit.

Staying consistent, pounding the pavement, direct mail, phone calls, word of mouth.

Does this all come down to the more philosophical and/or stress tolerance aspects of buying stock versus tangible property?

I’m not sure what others have seen in this area, but I’ve spoken to a number of lenders and it looks like the “no cap” is being loosely (but fairly consistently) defined as about $1.5M.

As far as the anti social and taking risks aspects, if you become confident in something (investing) those issues tend to go away, I can talk someones ear off and make no sense, but since I know a little bit more about investing, I've noticed people start to listen more when I talk about it.