The investors who prefer to lend privately rather than hold equity positions would receive promissory note tied to an individual property that their contribution is tied to?

I've personally utilized private notes on three transactions and participated in another handful of negotiations with sellers on behalf of buyers in the past five years. 

A promissory note is used to record the contract. 

The Yale Law Journal article, "Zoned Out: How Zoning Law Undermines Family Law’s Functional Turn," highlights this issue, noting that while family law has evolved to recognize diverse family structures, zoning laws have lagged behind, potentially hindering innovative housing solutions like co-living.Challenges for Co-Living InvestorsFor real estate investors interested in co-living, these restrictive definitions can lead to:Legal Barriers: Difficulty obtaining permits or approvals for co-living spaces due to non-compliance with traditional family definitions in zoning codes.Operational Challenges: Potential fines or legal disputes arising from housing arrangements that don't conform to local zoning definitions of a household.Market Limitations: Reduced ability to meet the growing demand for affordable, shared housing solutions.Advocacy for ReformThe Bloomberg article, "Why Are Zoning Laws Defining What Constitutes a Family?"

Could the seller provide you with a note for the down payment and you pay him back?

Take note of the number of bedrooms, bathrooms and proximity to public transportation.

Appreciate any advice at all.Things to note: I have a well qualified plumber tenant for the bigger under house garage already.

Like others noted unless your state law says otherwise there would be no prorated refund.

But, if they have given up on the home, is another story.I plan to stop by the house again soon and leave a note and try to find contact info to talk with them to get their story.From what I have gathered, the original owner passed away and one of their children obtained the estate of the home a while ago but, may be living in Orange County.

Landlords sorted by unit count in Philadelphia as of January 20th, 2025.Note: It doesn't reflect pure ownership, especially for corporate landlords.