Hi Jephte,Right now it's the shoulder season so most places are only booked on weekends.

I'm a good learner but most probably I'll still cry from time to time on your, guys, shoulder, like I do now, LOL.

However it is not unreasonable to have her shoulder a larger share of other household expenses if you provide 100% of the housing but whatever you do tread carefully.

It’s there on the surface, but much like the little angel on a cartoon character’s shoulder, it gets pulled down by the little devil on the other shoulder.

Given that the seller is willing to finance (which I think is good), I'm also aware that without a third-party bank lender I won't have them watching over my shoulder making the normal checks.Is the best course of action to hire a local real estate lawyer with experience in commercial property to make sure I don't miss anything big?

I understand Tahoe is a preferable market for STR (Yes, I know about Measure T :) ) due to the year round attractions with exception to the shoulder seasons, but really open to everywhere with a decent market in Norcal.

Besides, I've found that those "experienced contractors" who don't feel they need an inspector "looking over their" shoulder are the ones who cut a small corner here or there and keep getting caught by the inspector. 

My main guy just hurt his shoulder and I'm looking to get some cabinets hung, appliances placed and an island created.

If you have multiple owners in arrears in your community, the rest of the owners will have to shoulder the cost of taking care of the building.

I'm also finding that trades are declining smaller priced jobs which take away the opportunity for higher priced ones; in this case, let them know that you have multiple properties so a small job today is worth doing for future business from you.I never thought I would have to offer this but please don't do what a former client of mine did and hire drug addicts to do the work (and that's why they are now a former client); it pays to have the job done right while affiliating yourself with people who don't make you look over your shoulder after they leave.