In terms of debts, I agree with @JoeHammel - A title company is the best resource to check on all liens which could be contractor, IRS, bankruptcy, local utility bills or property tax, child support, etc. 

From my 6 years of living in USA, my observation, I have realized that in American norms, parents' well-being in not their kids' responsibility.

I know that you, like the rest of us, really want to have that American Dream for our families.

I would encourage folks to watch the American greed episode on Remington financial.. little different they took due diligence fee's  this company is taking money to bird dog deals for them. but it was proven that in almost 20 years Remington funded less than 12 deals and they took in 5k to 10k per client. made millions. this I see is somewhat of a parallel offer to fund the deals make the bar so high that no one ESPECIALLY a newbie can get over the bar..  

I’m an American looking to invest in multi-unit properties. 1 unit will be occupied by the family member.Can anyone recommend a real estate agent who has investor mindset? 

His wife and child may be moving as well in a few months. 

Krohn often sites an experience where he came home one night and his wife mentioned to him that they didn't have enough money for groceries for her and their new child.

That last paragraph is the best advice ... consult a specialist.It is possible to structure ownership of a U.S.A. entity such that it is a child (100%) of a Canadian corporation.  

at first they wanted the deficiancy I went to bat for him and we got that waived.. and of course there was 7 judgements for 7 different moms for child support that had to come out of that 1.7 as well.. :) WE pulled it off and I was pretty proud of my negotiating skills against wells.. but it was running up on a quarter reporting end and I guess they just really needed that loan off the books..

A lot of the discussions here are going to be very much a North American application to investing since regulations and financing are somewhat similar for the US/CA, but likely different for Africa/Europe etc.