Sudden need: You could find yourself under pressure to get fast cash and decide to sell your note or contract for deed.

This takes some pressure off you around the risk, but especially if you're dealing with friends and family, the downside is whatever conflicts could arise if you run into problems (at which point I'd imagine a silent partner might have a lot more to say). 

I imagine you are under a lot of pressure specially with children. kids always influence our decisions .   

Silly question...did you replace light fixtures and, if so, did you go back with ceiling fans or just flush mount fixtures?

Credit and Liquidity Issues so when the nation's banks face a credit crunch, often caused by a higher prime rate, its profit margins and cash reserves can feel the pressure, resulting in decreased lending in the overall economy, and consumer spending. 

My suggestion is to get a boiler service guy (probably a smaller company)  out and get an estimate of what it will cost to repair the boiler so she has heat.. you don't need it working like new just want it to heat..Then you can make more decisions...OK My knowledge on boilers is not great but basically you have a oil or gas burner, a pump and pump motor,  piping and zone valves, and pressure gauge.... so, thermostat calls for heat then boiler fires up and tries to heat water .... then temp of water high enough to heat with.... then pump kicks on to circulate water to and from boiler...      

I'm under a lot of pressure in my life right now, I'm 24 never had a job, just graduated from college a year ago, in the middle of getting divorced, with a daughter to take care of and I don't have a penny to my name.

Be respectful of the fact the money came from your wife's family and don't pressure her into doing anything.

Lower monthly payments increases purchasing power, which in turn, puts upward pressure on prices.  

Luckily my wife has been saving for about 25 years and I do not have a lot of pressure on me.