stable cash flow

Thanks for the insight, we both have fairly stable jobs.

My sister makes the rents because she does get child support and another form of stable income from the government but if she had to go look for work and take care of a child at same time i wouldn't trust her to come through fincinaially

But I think what you will find is that a top-shelf modular will be at or near the cost of a frame house.  

Before pulling the trigger on a Condo, I would suggest looking hard at common charges and how stable they are (have they been going up outside of inflation?)

When lenders are looking at your history, they check the past two years of income for how stable of a lendee you are.

I have a stable job with a good income as well, but paying $4500 a month for me is really expensive though.

We spent more of the time focusing on checking the garage to see if there is electricity, how we can potentially put the shelfs and stuff like that. - Are the particular things that we should be looking for as an investor (rather than just rely on the "feeling")?

They usually have jobs in addition to school so have no time for foolishness, often are stable with a boy/girlfriend or spouse, and generally keep the place nice and pay on time because they are actual adults, not just legal adults. 

or may be gold, or stocks for a while until the economy is safe and stable?