Go to a traditional mortgage company and get a 30 year mortgage.

Therefore if it doesn't work out in a traditional way, that's a risk. 

With these agreements, purchasers with lower credit scores or incomes may be able to obtain loans that they could not have been approved for otherwise.At the same time, the interest rate that a seller may charge can often exceed that charged by a traditional mortgage lender.

I have been a little discouraged throughout this process, but I am not ready to give up yet.  

The United States has, traditionally, had lower cost housing than pretty much anywhere else in the world.

In addition to other non-traditional, and traditional, real estate investing.  

Once the money is in your Self Directed IRA, it can purchase real estate and other non traditional investments.

For example if  the loan is for $100,000 and a lender is charging you "2 points", what they are charing you is 2% of the loan, or $2,000.Your more traditional lenders will charge you points in order to buy down your interest rate.  

Good for you for staying with it and not getting discouraged!

Purchase price: $150,000 Cash invested: $55,000 Bought this house at an auction with traditional financing.