Don’t advertise the option price upfrontYou’re right, almost nobody posts it publicly.Not because it’s a secret, but because:You need to confirm they can actually qualify to exercise the optionYou need to verify their timeline + income + creditYou want the flexibility to adjust the strike price based on market data at the time they’re screenedThe proper flow is:Advertise it as “Rent-to-Own / Lease Option”Screen them like a normal tenant (income, background, rental history)Once approved, then present the option structure, option fee, strike price, and timelineIf you share it too early, you get tire-kickers who want an option fee refund when they get denied.

I am striking out finding a lender in NC who will refinance manufactured homes that are investment properties. 

Maybe it's just my background in sales, but I've never had a problem with striking deals.

This helps strike a balance between transparency and flexibility.Also, you're right to think about documentation.

Title was supposed to be clean at the striking of the gavel.

If you want 20%+ net IRRs, you are taking on more risk, and therefore more likely to strike out.  

Or, as my inner James Carville would say: 𝐈𝐭'𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐞, 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐩𝐢𝐝.Home prices remain inflated far beyond income growth.A small rate drop doesn’t fix $700K starter homes.Buyers are still on strike because the math ain't mathing.

With only 8–9 months before training, I’d pick stability over FOMO: house hack only if it’s a clean 2–4 unit that cash flows on conservative rents, you can self-manage locally for a few months, and a PM can seamlessly take over while you’re gone; otherwise take Option A, stack cash, and tighten your buy box so you can strike when you return.

The 30% down payment requirement doesn’t strike me as the biggest issue here.

I became a member two years ago, striking zero deals.