A vendor take back is when the owner holds a mortgage for a portion or all of the purchase price.A subject to is when you take possession of the property (the title is transferred) subject to the sellers mortgage staying on the property.

Actually on one of my Dallas condos the manager was embezzling and the other the HOA hired a general contractor who was hired to oversee the work of others but he preyed on the HOA pres older single female she gave him power to do a huge roof and HVAC and he was able to oversee his own work so he put a mechanic lien on all the units basically caused this hug lawsuit etc Sorry off topic and probably why others will say SFR but I also know the larger the property the more people the more chance for issues.Funny I say all this as I'm trying to post my own question about renting or selling my own condo and being long distance.On a current tenant or all tenants there is no real way to check on them being good as there are a lot of mom and pop and they don't want the hassle of reporting a bad tenant and the bad ones just shrug it off IMO the credit score is the top indicator.

Ch. 504B.(8) Family Member shall mean a property owner’s child, step-child, adopted child, foster child, adult child, spouse, sibling, parent, step-parent, mother-in-law, father-in-law, grandchild, grandparent, or registered domestic partner as defined by Saint Paul Code of Ordinances section 186.02 and any individual related by blood or affinity whose close association with the property owner is the equivalent of a family relationship.(9) Landlord shall mean the property owner or agent of the property owner.(10) Lease shall mean an oral or written agreement creating a tenancy in real property.(11) Rental Application Fee shall mean a fee paid by the potential tenant to a landlord, in order for the landlord to screen the background of the potential tenant before signing the lease. (12) Relocation Assistance shall mean a payment in an amount equal to three times the rental housing affordability limit at sixty (60) percent of Area Median Income for the Twin Cities metro area as published by the Metropolitan Council.

Does some or all of the rent apply to the purchase?

You might want to talk to a local attorney or the county and see if you can't be grand fathered in on some or all of this.Might be best to go down to county office and speak to someone in person.

Once you finish the BRRRR you'll get some or all of your capital back anyway. 

I would try an oral offer first with good reasoning behind the reduction.

I would feel out the agent and see if there is an opportunity to get the seller to carry some or all of it, for an "X" amount of time.

Would it be totally crazy to keep some or all of my reserves as gold?

Is it generally billed hourly or all one fixed cost?