I've spoken with several lenders and agents over the last month and have locked in some contacts.

I come across and have bought several early 1900's homes which typically have plaster walls - sometimes not in great shape. 

You can sometimes find a money partner to provide this cash if you don't have it.Buying Tax liens has its risks and doing it correctly takes work and time to build up a portfolio of houses that you can live on, but I did it. 

There are several other ways to make your offer competitive here without throwing down a ton of due diligence but it’s case-by-case. 

 16 terms you need to know in commercial real estate:1.Internal Rate of Return (IRR): A metric used to estimate the annualized return on an investment based on the timing and magnitude of cash flows.2.Cash-on-Cash Return: The annual income generated by a property expressed as a percentage of the initial cash investment.3.Discount Rate: The rate used to discount future cash flows to their present value in financial models; often represents the required rate of return.4.Capital Expenditures (CapEx): The funds set aside for property improvements, renovations, or major repairs.5.Gross Operating Income (GOI): The total income generated by a property before subtracting operating expenses.6.Operating Expenses: The costs associated with managing and maintaining a property, including utilities, taxes, insurance, and maintenance.7.Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR): A measure of a property’s ability to cover its debt payments, typically calculated as NOI divided by debt service.8.Loan-to-Value (LTV) Ratio: The ratio of the loan amount to the property’s appraised value, used to assess risk in financing.9.Equity Multiple: A measure of the total return on an investment, calculated as the ratio of total cash flows to initial equity investment.10.Residual Land Value: The estimated value of land after deducting development costs and desired profit margins.11.Sensitivity Analysis: A technique used to assess how changes in key variables (e.g., rent, expenses, interest rates) affect financial model outcomes.12.Operating Pro Forma: A projection of a property’s income and expenses over a specified period, typically used for budgeting and financial analysis.13.Cash Flow Waterfall: A structured distribution of cash flows to different stakeholders in a real estate project, often involving equity investors, lenders, and developers.14.Leverage: The use of borrowed funds (e.g., a mortgage) to finance a real estate investment, potentially amplifying returns but also increasing risk.15.Equity Investment: The amount of money invested by equity partners or investors in a real estate project. 16.

We have been past our "Number" for several years, so expanding into this Economic market we weighed more towards Risk Analysis and Wealth Preservation than bigger numbers (debt/asset growth) and increased exposure.

He also outlined the risks associated with trying to circumvent the prop. 

@Jack Kolton, I like several of the ideas already given.

You could also explore fixed income mutual funds or ETFs, but these may lose principal.For the balance, consider that 10-12 years is a long enough time horizon that fixed income instruments - bonds, CDs, or debt funds - are subject to inflation risk.

Several properties here for sale have VA assumable loans.