Up to this point I have worked with an agent that has their standard offer contract that they use or wholesalers that send out the contract that they want used when sharing their off market deal so the DIY approach is new to me and I don't want to make a costly mistake.  

The banks will not take an income approach and if there are no like-kind properties around, it will be compared to the nearby duplexes, regardless if they are similar in year built, condition, sq. footage, etc. 

I will bring the cash, but he brought the lead and will put in most of the labor.

He has recently approached me about a buy and flip deal that is currently off market, and he says this will garner an easy profit  of $25k after doing the necessary updates.

Any suggestions as to how any of you have approached this in the past.

I have been approached by a for profit company that would like to rent the whole house as a halfway house for substance abuse. 

I know I can't approach other people asking for their money, but if it's important, he brought up the idea of contributing on his own.

Seemed impossible to a man who brought his 4 children with just $400 cash and a $5000 debt to the Lutheran Church for the flight to the US.

Most people will be reasonable if you approach them as a friend rather than an opponent. 

And your preaching to the choir If I never have to talk to another tenant or PM in my life I will be a happy camper brain drain to me is not worth being in that business.. but that's just me and I know this site is heavy to landlords I understand that.The OP said the judge said he didn't have time to review the paperwork he brought to court to show his rightful ownership, not just that he wasn't able to present it.