Suggesting to them buying their house for a wholesale range offer or lower dependent on the extent of the rehab, then having a contract in place that gives them a percentage of the profit to help get them back on their feet, paying off debts etc.

However, the entire market depends on Robins Air Force Base, with not much else moving the needle.

I have some experience here, and my answer will be it depends. 

All of this really depends on your goals and timeline though too.

I think it really depends the style and setup.

It really depends on how much value you think that extra semester will bring to your goals!

It could be possible to still negotiate a purchase depending on the stage of foreclosure it is in. 

The idea of debt-free is that if a person is going to retire and has to completely depend on the income, they don't want a severe recession surprising them and causing them to default on the debt and losing the properties.In a normal world, I would do that as well.

Leverage / down payment required will depend on if you're a U.S. citizen, Green card holder or if you have another immigration status. 

The same money could buy 1-2 full properties that would rent for more, depending on the market you choose.