Once get 5-10+, I would consult an attorney to help you set up a structure that will protect you and your assets from potential lawsuits.

If you dream of owning on the Coast be very cautious of regulations against STRs, most communities are not STR friendly and some towns have revoked STR permits (lawsuits galore on that), so talk with an Oregon Coast based agent who KNOWS STRs or you could end up with an investment you can't rent and just have to wait out all the expenses of ownership until the appreciation kicks in.

Part of the act of providing title insurance is that the seller has to give the title company an affidavit of his names and aliases, addresses, work down on the house within the past X months, and lawsuits/ judgments against him.

While the answer lies somewhere within a refi from an owner occupant loan to an investor loan and our homestead laws, the law is hardly regulatory overthink(Maybe an underwriter overthink)Homestead laws provide a great protection for us in protection from seizures from a lawsuit.

I am sure you have filed complaints with the appropriate authorities correct.. this is not class action lawsuit stuff by the way

If there's a lawsuit, they'll name the broker along with it. 

@Joe OHara, you must file an ejectment lawsuit in Circuit Court of the county where the property is located. 

On the contract with the previous seller, I have 3 years to file a lawsuit / take actions against the seller if there was any misrepresentation on the deal that comes up within the 3 years after I purchase the property. 

2 things cross my mind when you mention buying all cash...1) You become more attractive to lawsuits when lawyers discover you have so much equity2) You lose any write-offs associated with that payment....do the math on that one...Just my $0.02

At least in urban core areas being a slumlord can be a lot more costly when you factor in city fines, vacancy (by far the biggest cost and risk considering that is when property get stripped), eviction times, possible lawsuits, etc.