Not all estates are probated, wills are approved and won't show up, properties in trust and properties held in joint tenancy are generally passed without probate issues.While I know you can chase the ambulance I never did, I realize that the world is all computerized now, but did you try looking these old folks up in the phone book, get the address, from there you can get the legal and copies of deeds and mortgages filed.

Joints will seperate, nails will "pop" and loosen giving you a squeaky floor.

In 2012, marginal tax rates for <$70K income were 15% (married filing jointly).

Own a car lot or a pizza joint after all if you need cashflow sometimes a small business can be a nice place for cashflow.

You'd be better off finding a good short sale investor and partnering with them as a joint venture.

Framing, drywall joints, ect, all contribute to non uniformity.

The deed is worded as follows:John Doe hereby grants to:XYZ and 123, his wife as joint tenants as to an undivided 1/2 interest and ABC and 345, his wife, as joint tenants to to an undivided 1/2 interest in the following described property.That's the language of the old deed before ABC & 345 formed an LLC with their daughter.

After that, I transfer an amount to my joint checking for household bills.

They might have money but still trash the place or live in an unsanitary manner.FYI there's no credit scoring in many of these developing countries, and anyway the notion of "individual" credit often doesn't exist in these places, at least for the masses-families hold joint bank accounts, one person in a large city remits money to relatives in rural area.

John Thedford,Consider a joint venture with the other person in which the 401k provides the cash and they do everything else.