The Thrift Savings Plan is, as far as I know, only available to federal government employees.

- Lawyers- Government feesAnything else that I'm missing?

Conventional loans are governed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (if you recognize those names).  

@Amit M.While both cities share a similar size portion of jobs being located in a single industry (20-28%), the difference is that most people outside of that one industry can afford to buy a house here in Sacramento, and most people outside that one industry in the Bay Area cannot.The average government employee in California makes less than $60k per year (several thousand less than the median income for all of Sacramento). 

If not, try to get an engagement agreement signed with the seller in the position of acting as a mortgage broker, depending on your state's rules and regulations. 

@Orlando CestonaUnfortunately no because the IRA regulations prohibit the IRA owner to use any of the IRA owned assets for personal use.

Personally, I've heard of some investor groups who are getting pushed out of the mobile home park business because they are seen as outsiders to the local government. 

If you operate by strict guidelines as indicated in your state landlord tenant regulations you are neither a bad or good landlord.

Now is the best time for you to prepare yourself to be a investor by sitting down and learning all your provincial landlord tenant regulations.

The government backed her loan, so they will not pay for the opportunity to lose money when they can just go to uncle Sam and say "Hey pay us the balance plus all fees on this loss".As far as the 50K comp, if it is comparable the appraiser will use it as a metric if the situation fits.