My alternative is renting until $1M+ single family homes become feasible. 

(it's been a few weeks now)  Are there any other Window phone users out there that may know of an alternative?

In one of these state I plan to start a food truck.  

Alternatively more individuals invest directly in real estate, and not through funds.

What's their level of expertise - how many unique alternative investments do they hold?

Plumbers, Electricians, Contractors, etc. depending on the maturity level of their business usually need a space for their service trucks, supplies, equipment, and possibly a small office.  

I've personally had bad experiences with automatic stalls damaging the paint on my truck.

Two Bucks and a Truck.  

An alternative; the seller pulls as much cash out of the property from a refinance as he can and the investor takes title subject to the new existing financing.The seller has the cash and the investors has the property.Another alternative ---- ask the seller to give you X$ for repairs at time of settlement.Another alternative ---  agree to give the seller a Hybrid bonus once the property is sold....10- 20 - 30%.The hybrid usually works when a seller is accepting less than what he wants and the informal  partnerships works great.Charles

I'm trying to open up this discussion in terms of both good and bad...After speaking with a few people and lenders on acquiring money for a down payment on a multifamily property, a secured personal loan came up as an alternative to coming up with enough money for part of the down payment (oh, say $10,000).That means:> Secured personal loan (putting a lien on a car as collateral) worth $10,000 at terms of 4.25% APR over 5 years. - Total Down: $20,000> A mortgage for $102,000 @ 5% over 30 years , meaning a monthly PITI of about $800> 2 Duplexes (4-plex) with total monthly income of $2,400 *these numbers are somewhat irrelevant to the question, but is just an attempt at giving real world data*The question is: with the acquisition of another mortgage, what are the upsides and downsides of acquiring a secured personal loan as well?