I know several out of state owners of 4-5 star parks who never come to see their assets and they operate just fine with their onsite team, even though they admit there are operational inefficiencies that could be addressed if they operated like we do. 

thank you for your feedback @Wesley W.

. -- I must say that I completely agree with @Wesley W..

Not all working class parents are helicoptering their kids and demanding 5 star schools.

We travel, take daily walks together, attend church, assist at the Phoenix mission, garden, hike, keep up on the latest issues, have lunches and dinners with friends, attend family events and sit and stare at the stars.

This led me to think maybe REIT is the star for this time.

@Kathy Johnson and @Wesley W.

I much prefer Rural Tiny towns as long as I have a Rock Star Manager in the area.  

I always suggest RE investors star in their hoe market. 

If in your shoes I would do exactly as you setup to do, meet at bank together to take receipt of the pre-payment in front of bank officer, making record of of the transaction and your efforts to keep things legally known and above board, I give you a gold-star for that action.