There seems to be a lot of speculation in the post and the answers provided can only be speculative in nature given the information.

After diving into LTR in SFHs for the last few years, we are interested in purchasing a home (preferably lakefront or lakeview) with dock access on Table Rock Lake. 

I suppose legally you could, if you fully disclosed the non arms length nature but, no lender in business, or wanting to stay in business would do it.At the end of the day, what you want, while it may make sense to you and your parents, just isn't a scenario that happens.  

It's monopolistic in nature especially when it comes to transaction involving a commission.

I completely agree and have conveyed this to the seller and he didn’t tell me to kick rocks so there maybe some negotiation capability. 2.

But, life seems to go on for them...On a slightly different note, I think the nature of your investments may dictate how you structure yourself. 

A similar situation would be like when New Orleans flooded and people were displaced in mass , or another natural disaster .

Cedar offers natural resistance to rot and pests with a great look that can enhance property value, but at a significantly higher cost and it requires regular maintenance to retain its appearance.

The natural gas boom in the area has brought a ton of out of town workers who need a place to rent.

Trying to figure out if this is natural settling or we should provide reinforcement to the beam to prevent further settling.