You want to mix in advertisements with quality content that people will want to read such as DIY articles, market statistics, and popular housing trends.

Are they being professionally managed or DIY managed?

Trust invests the cash to make the payments on the installment sale to the seller.

In the end, it would have made more sense to hire a couple handymen for a week or two than me spending 3 weeks installing flooring, base and case.

I will always look at the air handler and make sure tenants are installing fresh filters (most neglect this item).  

We pay $850 for a WH install, so, that seems high but you are in CA.

The loan has a payback period of 5 years in equal installments. 

I've spent the last 3 years nagging the city to sell me a lot next to my property so I can install a driveway and they've finally agreed.

Install cameras around the parameter of the property today; post no trespass signs; change your for rent listing. 

To minimize capital gains tax on the sale of their primary residence, your in-laws can utilize the $500,000 capital gains exclusion, potentially explore an installment sale to spread tax liability over several years, or consider converting the property into a rental to use a 1031 exchange for tax deferral eventually.