If anyone has any recommendations on networks or networking tools, it would be greatly appreciated. 

In today’s housing market, where inventory remains tight and competition is fierce, speed and decisiveness have become critical factors in securing a home.A Market Defined by Scarcity and CompetitionThe U.S. housing market is still struggling with the effects of years of underbuilding following the 2008 financial crisis.

Reverse Mortgages (HECM or Home Equity Conversion Mortgage) can be a FANTASTIC tool! 

I want to know is it more cost effective or easier to purchase the property alone and put it in a mortgage in our name or purchase the LLC from him that holds the property within it.

What property management software or tools would you recommend for tracking rent payments, leases, and maintenance requests?

They give you and teach you all of the tools you need for creative financing and are in the trenches with you.  

To leverage the equity for financing my next deal, a second mortgage seems like a more cost-effective option.

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.

BP has various tools to help you analyze your deals (rentals, flips, wholesale, etc). : https://www.biggerpockets.com/investment-calculators7.

In your case, changing the property from a rental to your primary residence constitutes a change in use.The depreciation recapture will be calculated based on the fair market value of the building at the time of conversion, not including the land value.Since you're tearing down the existing structure, the entire amount of depreciation taken over the past two years will likely be recaptured, as the building's value at conversion will effectively be zero.The recaptured amount will be taxed as ordinary income, up to a maximum rate of 25% for residential rental property (Section 1250 property).