Obviously, someone planning to retire in five years should not be diving into risky investments whether real estate or stocks.

If you want to be relatively close to family look at nearby neighborhoods with older housing stock that have lower tax rates.

I would send a second written letter on official stock that requests a phone conversation. 

From Fannie:Borrowed Funds Secured by an AssetBorrowed funds secured by an asset are an acceptable source of funds for the down payment, closing costs, and reserves, since borrowed funds secured by an asset represent a return of equity.Assets that may be used to secure funds include automobiles, artwork, collectibles, real estate [EDIT: eg, a HELOC], or financial assets, such as savings accounts, certificates of deposit, stocks, bonds, and 401(k) accounts.Secured Loans as DebtWhen qualifying the borrower, the lender must consider monthly payments for secured loans as a debt.If a secured loan does not require monthly payments, the lender must calculate an equivalent amount and consider that amount as a recurring debt.When loans are secured by the borrower’s financial assets, monthly payments for the loan do not have to be considered as long-term debt [EDIT: in other words, 401k loans are not only acceptable, but we don't even hit your DTI with the payment].I like to push things; I've been waiting for an opportunity to use artwork-secured debt for ages but it's never come up.

LOL... who is going to do that.if its the US  that's what the bankruptcy laws are for.Jay, depends on who the lenders are ;-)Agree that posting here was not the best move, but it is out of desperation and the chances of "traditional lenders" seeings this is slim.It's the wild wild west so it's hard to predict how this might end.

We used both the styles that were regularly in stock and also the styles that we had to order in from the warehouse.

The third model I'd be looking at is the stochastic method to compare, contrast, or predict/forecast.

I stumbled upon it while looking for various podcasts in the investing world(stock, real estate, 401(k)s,IRAs, the works).

They are a consignment store so you will pay a 10-15% markup and then tax but they have cabinets in stock and they are half or less then what I see at Home Depot.They also have granite countertops in 8 or 10 foot lengths (I forget the exact)  these are precut with an edge finish on them.  

Tough to do that in the market and with market at all time highs it may be a ideal time to do it (but nobody can predict what the market will do).