through real estate, royalties (including from mental enterprises, such as financial seminars), businesses, etc.  

My goal in the future is to purchase real estate and try to turn that into an income stream, and I hope to use this forum for an aid in my future dream.

The investment of money is in a common enterprise (This is the one most people know, a/k/a a "pooling of money")Any profit comes from the efforts of a promoter or third party (In a joint venture, or partnership your governing documents give your partner(s) some level of decision making) if it's a "security", however, it's pretty much on you to make decisions that will result in profits being made.At the end if the day, Joe, how do you want to run your deal?

I am a carpenter by trade and love what i do, and this is my story of how i have become so interested  in learning real estate investing...I am originally from New Jersey and was employed by a very big real estate company called Sackman Enterprises  based in New York. 

Seek out the local legal aid society for a thorough review of your facts and to determine whether you are liable based on prior dealings, and what rights your parents have by virtue of the unique facts of this case.

Ryan your lemons to lemon aide is the way I would go with post rehab rents of course,  let us know how this one works out Good Luck

Does this mean I'm eligible for federal aide?

They can forward you emails they received from the university, too, regarding their acceptance or about student aid or about orientations, etc.  

You're discounting the very real possibility they could get low bono or pro bono representation through either the local legal aid society, who typically hates landlords, or a local chapter of the ACLU, if they are particularly sob-worthy people.But that is beside the point, as I think your recommendation for question reform is a good one.

I accepted copies of emails from the university to the student saying they were accepted, and/or information about their student financial aid.