I'm calling for final on a converted garage next week.

I finally was able to speak to her - she confirmed she's planning to be out by the end of the month.

I will have POA and will conduct a 80% cash out refi, which the loan proceeds will then be paid to the seller and the title would then finally be transferred to me. 

The combined entity would pose a significant challenge to other competitors.The offer is still under review by a special committee of Seven & I’s independent directors, with no guarantee of a final agreement.

He is going to be factual while also contemplating what is happening behind the scenes without directly calling anyone out before a final resolution comes out.  

Quote from @Dalton Summers: Hope this helps. https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-4735.24(A) Except as otherwise provided in this section, when earnest money connected to a real estate purchase agreement is deposited in a real estate broker's trust or special account, the broker shall maintain that money in the account in accordance with the terms of the purchase agreement until one of the following occurs:(1) The transaction closes and the broker disburses the earnest money to the closing or escrow agent or otherwise disburses the money pursuant to the terms of the purchase agreement.(2) The parties provide the broker with separate written instructions that both parties have signed that specify how the broker is to disburse the earnest money and the broker acts pursuant to those instructions.(3) The broker receives a copy of a final court order that specifies to whom the earnest money is to be awarded and the broker acts pursuant to the court order.(4) The earnest money becomes unclaimed funds as defined in division (M)(2) of section 169.02 of the Revised Code and, after providing the notice that division (E) of section 169.03 of the Revised Code requires, the broker has reported the unclaimed funds to the director of commerce pursuant to section 169.03 of the Revised Code and has remitted all of the earnest money to the director.

Finally able to actually start executing on some thoughts — and figured I need a network of folks that love real estate investing as much as I do.

I'll do that when I meet my investments are producing my final goal of $X.

many houses in the midwest, for example, are very old and need major rehabs.i personally think out of state investing is more difficult than advertised, and much more difficult in the current investing environment, with: prices high; interest rates high; tremendous demand for inventory, by both investors and retail buyers; and good PMs, contractors, etc. booked up.here's a really thoughtful thread with the experience of another CA investor and lots of different responses:https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/12/topics/1215726-break...and here are some threads about how it can very easily go wrong:https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/48/topics/1159104-overl...https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/963/topics/1195280-expe...https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/48/topics/1160450-run-i...https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/48/topics/1137397-balti...finally, you also said you "don't have a lot of money to start with." 

About 1/3 of their leases had to be terminated or evicted.I finally got tired of it and stopped accepting Section 8 about six years ago.