My gut feel is whatever you are buying is most likely buying at near peak and your equity is at best flat in the next few years. 

My parents are interested in having a solar company install panels in their home, especially since the company may upgrade their electrical in the process.

Ceilings always flat white.

There's plenty of flat fee brokerages in Illinois that will accept anyone with a license.

There is 3 other single unit apartments in our area on Airbnb for $110/night flat. 

if you can "house-hack" a 4-flat, that would be a great place to start, especially if the initial investment leaves something of your $50K.

The biggest pain is the "utilities included"; however, I'm somewhat stuck at this point unless I want to go back to the county and replace the panels.

The biggest pain is the "utilities included"; however, I'm somewhat stuck at this point unless I want to go back to the county and replace the panels.

I own a two flat where the upper apartment has a sloping ceiling in the kitchen.

It is called "honesty" and transparency.In fact something DOES happen when we can't find a seller.We get invited to wine and cookies.See we tell them flat out that if the house is better for a listing, that they should list it.