You can do is describe things families may like in your add such as "3 large bedrooms with plenty of storage", "lots of livable space", "large fenced-in backyard", "quiet cul-de-sac", etc.

There are plenty of people who skirt the rules. 

I now have a wonderful home to live in with plenty of created equity via forced appreciation, and minimal paid-in equity.

He does not "understand the appeal of Chicago," but plenty of other investors do.As far as your concern of "investors leaving in droves," I don't see any evidence this will happen.

@Andrew Pettit you'll definitely want to study up on private lending (there are plenty of resources on this topic) before borrowing from family.

Im sure you have plenty of happy customers and some are affiliated and posted their stories on this forum.

You can make plenty of money being nice and competent.   

There are plenty of ways you can invest in other things that are sucessful and make more than the Banks do.I am from and was raised in a Dallas Texas and do not plan on leaving.  

There are plenty of deals to be found. 

Hey Kim - plenty of hard money lenders out there who can close quickly - be careful of scams though.