The state government as the region's largest employer provides a good deal of employment stability. 

In addition to the co-signer, they are willing to provide me with proof of employment, references, bank statements, etc. to prove the ability to pay the monthly rent.

Disregard most of the above, its bias on one side of the street or another.The average business exec will move more times in a year than your average teenage girl will change boyfriends.IT personnel move where work takes them, or where the pay raises are.Job history is irrelivant, only employment fact that matters is:A: do they maintain constant employment?

Also, if the family is employed or has other aid such as social security or disability, the voucher holder will pay a portion of the rent.

I think they need to let the employment picture get tighter.

I would always require pay stubs as it's all too easy for people to get a friend to pose as an employer (also previous landlord).

I wish I had bought some rentals after the RE prices came down in 2008 but the banks did not like my fluctuating income while I was self employed.  

I get health insurance coverage from my spouse's employment.

What strategies have my fellow BPers employ to get realtors engaged?

I think seller finance is for those who cant get a conventional loan (self employed maybe) or on properties what wouldn't qualify (bad roof maybe).