The only $20,000 houses I have purchased required $20,000 or more to make rent ready so I can't visualize the first option.

.* I had to wait for cars pass on the road in order to continue my conversation with the neighbor because of the road noise.

I ask is there any way you can park one of your cars in my driveway at night?

Having sweeteners available such as personal property: cars, boats, Karatbars or silver bars can sometimes be the final perk you can throw into a deal to lock it down.

My mentor used to tell me, "Mortgage brokers are worse than used car salesmen."

Right now I'm scraping by working at a car wash for minimum wage.

And just because I had a bad auto mechanic does not mean that I start fixing my car myself. 

I used silver Sharpie to fill in scrapes in my (plastic) car bumper and it looks like nothing happened.

I know New Brunswick well, best bet is to stick with 2+ Family rentals for New Brunswick and anything within walking distance to the school since not all students have cars. $455 a month is cutting it very tight per month, you have one incidental and your cash flow is gone. 

I hope to get a hookup to listen in the car, too.