One or two rental properties is not a bad start, but it will not get you to financial independance. 50 rental doors will not do that and you must find alternative resources to acquire properties.Partners, private money lenders, home equity, IRA, 401k, other people's IRA or 401k, etc.

Anyone have any alternatives?

Another alternative is to buy the property sub-2 or in some other fashion.

I agreed to pay for the first treatment because she is a good tenant.

If you assume 100% financing for evaluating the deal, then you're paying yourself the same return on the cash as you're paying for the loan.An alternative is to consider the cash on cash return.

Real estate is one alternative.

Assuming that someone has alternative motives, or raising issues with postings that might simply have been an honest oversight, are not worth defending or bickering about (leave that to the grade 5 kids.

The alternative will be more expensive.

If not, you will be in a forced position to sell which equals loss.I would suggest some alternatives to finance this or at least some back-ups such as private money.

So, have your attorney strike an alternative like a modest EMD upon lender acceptance as David suggested.