If it was me, I would take money out of stocks and bonds to use for a 20% down payment on a more expensive property that cash flowed better.

I'm simply betting on the US real estate market instead of the US stock/bond market.  

Here's the secret:Ask the advisory title officer what you can offer to make them feel comfortable with underwriting the file.This may be indemnification or a surety bond. 

Trying to be a day trader in notes can also require a license, residential notes are not stocks or corporate/government bonds, they are "private" unilateral finance contracts between a lender and a borrower.

US HML or private type banks are who you deal with .. you need not deal with anyone off shore.The next thing they will want you to buy is a bond from some company in Thailand..

Ultimately I believe people should be invested in stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and real estate.

When I met her I attempted to bond over philosophy (her profession, my major) and mutual social connections - and not let her realize that I have real assets for as long as I possibly could.I must admit I took some evil pleasure in "corrupting" a woman who was practically a communist feminazi professor when I met her - and making her annoyed at herself when she realized that she was just as vulnerable to enjoying a few material pleasures (good wine, nice hotels, skiing, riding in my MBZ instead of her Hyundai) as any other human.I don't see her telling me I should sell our family's ski condo and donate the money to charity!

The credit is approximately 9% per year for 10 years for each unit acquired, constructed, or rehabilitated without other Federal subsidies, and approximately 4% for 10 years for units involving the 20% rehabilitation tax credit, Federal subsidies or tax-exempt bonds.

Stocks, bonds, and commodities as well as others can offer you this peace of mind of not holding all of your eggs in one basket.  

The same dynamic happens in the bond market.