For properties in Central Ohio, you can access records through the Franklin County Recorder's Office, which provides a public records search tool to help you look up property details, including any liens.

You need at least 2 people: accounts payable writing checks, and bookkeeper recording the transactions to keep things fairly safe.

--I would agree that this market has opportunities for seller finance as a record number of properties in the US are paid off. 

They said they'd accept a 6 month term instead, but they're not being very forthcoming about what their sales record has been (I asked for the last 12 months just to get an idea, but they ignored the question :( ) and I'm getting a not-so-great feeling about working with them....The home is 2-stories, attached garage, 4bd 3ba, 2269 sqft and sits on a corner lot with a huge backyard (lot is approx .13 acres or 5662.8 sqft).

Thank You Hi John, Most DSCR lenders will start the seasoning period when the property was purchased and new ownership on title was recorded on county records.

@Roger KimBe careful about gifting twice as well - if you own 50% of the home and give him the full 100% of the proceeds, perhaps it could be considered as a gift from you to him of your 50% of the equity (likely recorded by formal deed prior to the sale). 

This is how the mortgage records a payment towards the loan.

There's obviously quite a bit of diligence that comes after such as who the key principles are and their credentials/track record (both balance sheet and experience), the underlying real estate and thesis behind the investment & tax prep and audit procedures but as a general rule of thumb if the investor can't get past the first part which is understanding what they are investing in, passive investing is probably not for that individual. 

No losses but not a long track record. 

Here’s a breakdown of some of the information you may need to provide for a cost segregation study.For existing buildings:List of equipment on the propertyProperty settlement stateAny appraisals or purchase/lease agreements Property maps or blueprintsSchedules, change orders or documents for future renovation plansSupporting documents for calculating real property book valuePrevious purchase price allocations that separated assets into their appropriate allocation and valuePast site inspections and photographsDocumentation that proves or records deterioration of assetsFor new construction:Contracts or contract paymentsLand and property sizeBlueprints of projectList of equipment involved or purchasedList of projected costs including costs for land developmentApplicable site inspectionsConstruction schedules and payment requestsPhotographs of completed assets or work in progressCost segregation specialists typically have an organized plan for the collection and analysis of the information provided.