Then you have to take responsibility for maintenance.You can rent a comparable home for $3,000 and the landlord handles maintenance.It makes sense to rent for a year or more until prices balance and you can save $1,000 a month towards a down payment in the future.

How can I verify this in the future when there is no power to the home? 

If it's a transactional relationship, then worst case scenario, you don't work with that person again in the future.

The why will help you adjust course so that you can learn what you need to do to qualify - either for a different property, or in the future. 

You’re $20k will be your future savings that you will need to have around in the bank for when your property needs repairs or there is a vacancy.

With all the speculations of rates going down in the future what is the best option in your opinion.

Would definitely be interested in looking again in the near future.

I can't see a reason in the world to sell it to an LLC now since you want to maintain your husband and wife tax exemption on the future capital gain as a primary residence, but since it's rented now you may want to consult on that.

That is, at a minimum, 4 years in the future. 

I'm enticed by stock market as I believe AI will likely make for greater returns in future due to companies running more  efficiently.