Connect with local investors and RE professionals who are usually willing to share their preferred team of lenders, attorneys, accountants, contractors, builders, etc.All the best!

Questions you need to ask yourself are: Do you prefer higher cash flows or less headaches?

My personal privacy is not an issue for me but based on the American legal system, lawsuits being reduced to the status of a lottery, I understand why most prefer to hide.

Your father's preference for bank financing is understandable.

I personally prefer to start now, than later.If you can afford a duplex financially with a bank and rent the other half to pay for most of your mortgage, why not?

That's why this busting of price fixing is loooooong overdue.want to say the same in just one paragraph. i could see many realtors are actually afraid of the changes and still prefer to live in old status quo. 

A lot will depend on your personal preference - if you are looking for a very tourist-friendly community with top amenities I would suggest a pool townhome in Solara, Windsor at Westside, Windsor Hills or Windsor Island (all the Windsors).

I now live in Germany, with mother in law because we have a baby and prefer to live with grandparents for the baby, plus its free and clear and no rent. 

Given your situation, I think the best thing to do is 1) work on improving your credit and 2) look to house hack, preferably a duplex or fourplex where you live one unit and rent out the others.

Because of my personal schedule I don't have as much time to fix up the property anymore, so I'm looking for an exit probably as the most preferable outcome.