some were included with the purchase of the townhouse (dishwasher and stove)  but i added a microwave, washer, dryer, and 2 refrigerators.  

The term "spouse" includes domestic partners.

So how is the normal things included in the Hoa payment like water, sewer, garbage, utilities, etc getting paid or taken care of ?

If the margins were big enough to include the $30k in payments that future Buyer would be making, than you may want to consider.

You can be almost anywhere you please, including at an American Consulate in Mexico after finishing your freaking boat race to Mexico that you didn't bother telling me you were going on when we opened escrow!

Those states seeing an increase include: Delaware: foreclosure starts jumped 113%Arizona: +76%Utah: +63%Connecticut: +50%Oregon: +20%South Carolina: +3%Massachusetts: +3%Virginia: +3%Of the 1,713 counties analyzed with foreclosure starts in July, 36 percent posted year-over-year increases, including Maricopa County (up 43 percent); Prince George’s County, Md.

I have been in the construction business since I was 17 including those college years.  

I don't buy properties that require an HOA and the utilities are always covered by the tenant.So if I have a market that has 3B/@B homes for $100K the 1% figure I like to apply only tells me that the rent needs to be around $1000/month.When I find properties that fit that criterium, all the other important aspects start coming into play, but all the properties that don't meet the 1% are out.These other criteria include things like the quality of the schools, the distance to restaurants and shopping, the crime rate in the area, the stability of tenants, meaning how long are typical lease agreement.

Other options might include: getting an unsecured personal loan to cover the $20k, persuading a friend or family member to loan me the money, or cobbling together the money from random sources like credit card convenience checks and maybe a Lending Club loan.Problem is, while my credit is good and I have a decent amount of cash to work with, my income is low-ish and comes from four (!)

Since committing to this goal of becoming a successful real estate investor, I have found several helpful resources to include BiggerPockets.com (via Podcasts).