Much other info needed, however if you don't like "window shakers" a very viable alternative is called Mini split systems.

HVAC- Troubleshooting - Most companies will charge a truck-roll fees i.e. $75 just to come out and tell you what's wrong (i.e.

She's going to have to rent for now and work on alternative financing for next year. 

Alternately, many investors are using some of the crowd funding sites to streamline the process and you might check these out.The easiest way to borrow money is simply to ask.

What you do should be based SOLELY on whether your investment (time and $$) is best put to work in this townhouse or in an alternative instead.

I'm debt free and used my truck and wife's car to secure a 45k signature loan for a down payment last year.

While an extra $50 a month for a unit may be nice, what's the alternative to that extra $600? 

Thanks @Waylon ThemerIs there a prequalification process for commercial lending, similar to borrowing for SF, in which a potential borrower would sit with a lender and go through all of the pertinent points around the borrower's capacity to borrow, run through a discussion of the borrower's version of a business plan, and discuss the various alternatives available to the borrow before a specific property is identified or under contract?

I was able to look at it from a completely alternative view and walked on the deal which surely would have been a disaster. 

That said, your friend should approach a broker and quote alternative insurance carriers because it can vary significantly.