Unconventional ways to purchase property

[stroppingyoungman]

Hi all,
I know this increasingly viral contest is an extreme example:

http://money.cnn.com/2015/03/13/news/center-lovell-inn-contest/

But I am anxious to move beyond my first rental property, and am curious what unconventional techniques the mustachians have employed over the years. Creative owner financing arrangements? Bartering? Something I've never thought of? It just seems that, if your income is modest, it is tough to get past those first 3 or so rentals.

[arebelspy]

That's barely different than lottery schemes I've seen run trying to sell houses (typically illegal).  Apparently this is acceptable though, because it's a "contest"? 

/eyeroll

There are lots of ways to own property, but I wouldn't go looking for rare one-offs like the above.

It just seems that, if your income is modest, it is tough to get past those first 3 or so rentals.

I think the opposite, personally... 1-3 is hardest, but if you have the discipline to save up to buy those, and if you've bought them right, then the savings habits + the income from those snowball into more, and more, and more.  :)