The lease agreement would not reference the estate planning docs at all to avoid any reclassification as a purchase.Option 2 - purchase, he holds mortgage.Is it possible/legal to have a mortgage where 100% or nearly 100% of payments go to principal?

Here are the numbers:Purchase price: $130,000Down payment: $32,500 (25%) (conventional)                             $26,000 (20%) (private)Interest Rate: 5% (conventional with principal and interest payments)                         10-12% (private with interest only payments with balloon at 24 months)Appraisal value: $205,000 (this is what it appraised for before any work has been done)                             $280,000 (estimated after reno)Rents: $1,400 (already rents for this before purchase with 2 of 4 units occupied)             $3,000 (once units are renovated for occupancy)Estimated Expenses: $1,300/month (during reno)                                      $1,700/month (after refinance)Estimated Cashflow: $-100/month (during reno while I live in flip)                                     $800-$1,300/month (after refinance, estimates are depending on interest rates and conservative estimate)Let me know if you need more numbers for better clarity.

Keep in mind you are also getting principal pay down. 

One answer you should have is the plan to preserve principal. 

Furthermore, as we all know the first few years of mortgage payments are mostly all interest expense and less principal, so my outstanding balance on the debt is remaining roughly the same.

Details: Purchase price: $50,000Loan amount: $40,000Down payment: $10,000Interest rate: 6%APR: 6.404%TIP: 116.332%Monthly principal and interest: $239.82/monthEstimated Taxes, insurance and assessments: $292/monthEstimated total monthly payment: $532Estimated closing costs: $8,247 (+$10,000 down payment)Breakdown:Origination charges: $950Appraisal and all title fees: $1,862Recording and transfer taxes: $800Prepaid homeowners insurance and interest: $697Initial escrow (2X months Homeowners insurance + 12X months $250 property taxes): $3,000Other (buyers personal attorney fee $450 + Title-owners Title Ins $405): $855Thanks again so much for your time and input.

I'm a man of principal.

Core principals have not changed - Buy low, sell high. 

I am trying to figure out what the best thing to do for a friend is in the situation outlined below:Home Value $570kowed 1st mort $496k (current loan was modified and principal reduction completed for $100k reallocated in form of balloon payment at end of loan term)no 2ndarrears $30kIn process of going through bankruptcy, however, want to complete a lease with option to buy. 

If I start seeing huge losses of principal, then I move on.