If you are not able to find a suitable replacement property - there are some passive investment solutions (ie Delaware Statutory Trusts) available. 

@Jillian Sidoti, the folks at Royal Legal Solutions, Kim Lisa Taylor at The Syndication Attorney, and possibly someone like Anderson Business Advisors are just a few that I know. 

Amit, our firm can work with any DST sponsor to find the best solutions for each situation. 

My point is that even modern leasing arrangements are going awry.

I'm wondering what experience some of you have with different solutions for moisture in basements. 

If that objection is too difficult to overcome let the seller know you may have another solution in terms of a Land contract or a Contract for deed. 

So bankers are likely to be forced to try to generate creative ways of financing an unafforable mortgage which often isn't a sustainable solution and/or people are likely to move elsewhere.Apparently house values also increased by some 21% in Los Altos from last year according to Zillow which certainly isn't the national norm nor am I aware of traditional income growth being in that range here.

I definitely would like to shop around for the best solution.

Sustainability would be key but might provide a creative solution to a killer heating bill. 

A modern, power-vented, condensing water heater is 20% more efficient than an older draft/convectional flue water heater.The upfront sticker price is normally <10% of the lifetime operating costs ... if you compare an older convectional flue gas water heater (EFT 0.60 - 0.75) to a new sealed-combustion, direct vented, condensing water heater (EFT 0.85 - 0.90), the newer should more than make up for the sticker difference over its life.