IRS allows a single person a $250k nontaxable gain on the sale of a property. $500k if married and filing jointly.

[or if finding] to the contrary . . . deny such person a license . . . that being so, it cannot be held that these acts were intended to raise revenue merely for support of the government.”[16]Since then, “the Court has repeatedly emphasized the statute’s purpose to ‘provide public protection through the regulation of the activities of the brokers.’”[17]If you have brought together a real estate buyer and seller, or landlord and tenant, or have been involved in contract negotiations involving real estate, and expect to receive any form of compensation (no matter how it is labeled), you must be a licensed Realtor.

person A sees a property on zillow and goes to see it. he notices foundation problems.person B sees the same property on zillow and goes to see it. he notices foundation problems. if there was a website where users could do a "background check" on a property, person B wouldn't have wasted his time and gas going to this property. is there such a website?

To be quite clear I see this person as more of a predator than friend and I am highly skeptical that this was an accident. 

I’m persona non grata.

If you prospect (make phone calls, go door knocking, drive for dollars, etc), If you are friendly, conversational, know the proper things to say & understand why you are saying those things, if you think of the other person as a friend that needs your help, then you buy a lot of houses.  

My assumption on the process is:Draft offerAssuming offer is accepted Get inspectionAssuming inspection is what I think it isWrite the person a checkFill out a bill of saleGo to Dept of Lic.  

If someone stands to gain financially from action you may take based on their advice, I wouldn't consider that person a good source of unbiased information.

Take a look at MAS 90, it's a module professional accounting package, you'd need the basic and the RE stuff, it's been around awhile,  I ran a mortgage company with the full package.

They may not be the least expensive but are top notch.Just FYI - you are about 3 months late to have conversations with tax person as they are all swamped right now.