The next day take a soft dry towel to the remaining film and you will be amazed at how it comes right off - make sure the grout lines are dry before you do this, but do not wait more than a day because the film will continue to harden and become harder to get off.

If you can have a partner(s) that qualify and you remain less than 20% ownership, an SBA loan could still be a possibility and you could get the benefits of the program.

The city of Raleigh said the only 3 requirements for this to be a utility basement is: 1, A stairway needs to be connecting where I live and where the renter(s) downstairs would live; 2, Utilities need to be shared across the two living spaces; 3, the address needs to remain the same.I've had contractors and engineers visiting giving me quotes and making sure the structure is sound.

Now my girlfriend has owned her condo for about 9 years and owes less than half of the remaining mortgage.

These are for 1-4 units, but must remain owner occupied so long as you have the NACA mortgage. 

Sometimes it works, luck, market conditions, whatever, but sometimes it doesn't.I don't have a good outlook for California in the short term just because we're likely at a cycle peak, although in the medium term, I'm sure it will remain a hell of a lot more expensive than Indiana.

Will a 20 percent equity position be enough cushion to remain competitive and successful?

You just need to make sure that you can transfer any remaining balances onto other BT promotions, if you want to keep your interest payments low.

I am wondering if the "Conventional" listed on MLS was a mistake based on the feedback, but the fact remains they are willing to move forward with my financing once I meet their prerequisite.  

If those "investors" are lenders, then you also have all of the liability (the most a lender can lose is the remaining loan balance, while somebidy with equity has their net worth on the line)...