The onus falls square on your shoulders to make sure that you aren't engaging in prohibited transactions, but it tends to be far more flexible and cheaper to do this way.

You can also punch in addresses up and down the street to see what those houses are assessed for.The version of the land records that the County Assessor has access to does have recent sales on it; I contested my property tax increase once when I lived in Tulsa and I looked over the guy's shoulder as he researched it. 

I know you may feel weird about standing over their shoulder...but it's your money they'd be wasting if they do a terrible job. 

We can discuss the ethics of telling a seller you will buy their property without intending to buy it yourself in another thread someday.But I also want to say, I applaud that you list yourself as "Husband and Father" first on your profile. you have your head on your shoulders and have your priorities defined properly!

Hi @Catherine Moran ,To answer yours and @Kenneth Cowan 's inquiry regarding 203k in the city, I'm shoulder deep in my rehab now that I closed on in February and @Brie Schmidt was actually my realtor.

So I haven't even scratched the surface yet.There are guys out there that are head and shoulders above me in knowledge and guys who are head and shoulders above them.I remember, a few years back, I sat with a small group listening to a veteran investor named Andy.  

As you do deals you will have to build a team to take some of the stress of success off your shoulders.

(after I quit farming, I had rented my farm out for awhile; however it was too much to do that and work full-time job, as well as back and shoulder surgeries limiting the physical work I can do).

You want to park on the shoulder of the office 'ace' to listen and even run errands if necessary.

All depends.But what I would seriously consider is if you Aunt wouldn't mind the burden of that 25k of her shoulders and cut back on the sale price of 45k!