Also, a horse race track is proposed, along with a deSal plant in Moss Landing.  

Win win as he gets to stay and take care of his horse (which is not easy to find a place to rent with a horse) and I have a property that continues to appreciate.

I can lead a horse to the water but it's not my job to make em drink

Using  a source like this one you get the info from the horses month, no third party.

I recommend focusing on deal #1 first (to see if you even like REI and to help with what deal #2 should be); otherwise, you are putting the proverbial cart before the horse.

My wife has MS and she's dying to get enough land for a horse someday soon, but I decided to be a teacher ... so that may be a ways off if I don't get my foot in the door with real estate soon.

Not wanting to beat a dead horse But I still have several questions .How long does the home owner have to be deceased before some possible heir can show up and claim ownership?

Technology changes a lot of things, people never thought the phone would work as you had letters, or cars over horses.

@Mike Blackwell Not to whip a dead horse, but what kind of complimentary tools are you working on?

Your plan may treat you like an angel and my plan may horse-whip me.