It's difficult for a total stranger to know what's important to another in their decision to move.  

Family and friends can enable something where strangers would turn you down.

You are summoning up advice opn a public forum (from strangers, no doubt) in order to give your Father unsolicited advice. 

@Steven Hughes Nay, you don't need to hear what you can't do, from strangers, when you first start out you will find Nay Sayers probably amongst your current friends or family LOL.  

Your plan is excellent, especially your priorities to focus on what your passion is for your time.My advice is to share housing with family, friends, strangers, until you have some serious capital raised, OR you find a deeply discounted house to buy.  

I dont imagine EVER getting those rates from a stranger or business.Dan Dietz

It can't be "For Sale By Distant Relative" or "For Sale By Random Stranger". 

@Paul Neeb I don't think I understand why a stranger would give me the opportunity to sell their house, and just take their loan back over if I don't...

Better to lose a strangers money than your mom's.Use your own money and borrowed money until you learn the ropes.

If it is a scam, it could be as simple as you paying for the rehab of a property a stranger owns.So in the morning start calling the best real estate lawyer you can find.