So they know what scores and income levels get approved or rejected with each back.

Perhaps those interest rates are very low with the credit union but $480k is a very low loan size cap. 

This is the rising “management fees” the mutual fund managers have been increasing over the years which are completely obfuscated as virtually no one gets into the details of how their 401k fees are really paid out by their employers fund managers,  or public employee unions.  

This predates credit score days and I was a poor judge on people who claimed they were ministers.

My credit score is right around 800.

I do know some local credit unions who will lend on investment properties but I’m guess that depends on the banks and the specifics.  

It's all unionized and monopolized, so you can't just book someone else.

My local credit union told me the only other low down loan was a rural development loan, so the conventional 3% is news as well.

I started real estate with next to nothing, 8k and a loan from a credit union. 

The below chart is how the cities matched up according to the article: Overall rank (1=Best) City Total Score 'Real-Estate Market' Rank 'Affordability & Economic Environment' Rank 154 Boston, MA 58.32 92 270 287 Fall River, MA 42.63 289 275 288 New Bedford, MA 42.62 290 266As you can see all 3 cities ranked among the bottom of the list as far as Affordability and Economy is concerned.