I'd also like to try to purchase with a land trust or my LLC. 

Quote from @Victor Yang: If I gift a house, what amount will go towards the lifetime gift limit, the amount i purchased the house for, or the current FMV?

With this being your first purchase, you may want to consider a property that's not being sold at auction. 

Understand Realtor (Agent) Fees- In Germany, real estate agent (Makler) fees are typically paid by the buyer and can range from 3-7% of the property purchase price, plus 19% VAT.- These fees are due at closing and are part of the overall transaction costs.6.

It’s an interesting approach, but ensuring a strong screening process and a legally solid agreement is key.

His credit score is fine but his income is showing too low to get the loan, so I though maybe I could use my HELOC to make the purchase and do a Lease to Own.

If you had good credit (670-730 range), you have 20% to make a down payment, and sufficient income to qualify for the home you want to purchase - Would you choose the FIRST-TIME HOME BUYER or CONVENTIONAL purchase option...which would you pick and WHY?

However, he asked me to sign a one-year Exclusive Right to Represent agreement, as presented to him by his brokerage.His interpretation is that it applies only when he materially assists me, but I think the boilerplate brokerage language he was given reads much more broadly:"If during the term of this Agreement Buyer enters into a contract for the purchase of Property through the services or efforts of the Broker or Buyer’s Brokerage Firm, or by or through any other persons during the term of this Agreement" (emphasis mine).My concern is that, under my interpretation, if a fellow real estate investor wants to unload a property or if I get pointed to an opportunity by a former agent, colleague, or friend, this agreement could create an obstacle to moving forward with the deal.In the end, I didn’t sign.

Our plan is to purchase again with a better mindset of turning that into a profitable rental.We have diligently completed all the necessary steps and are on the verge of signing a management agreement with a property manager.However, we are experiencing some doubts.  1.

He knows nothing relevant about this purchase.