Prior to this post and a couple others on the forum lately, in my mind, turnkey meant: 1.Completely rehabbed property so that only minimal or routine maintenance would be required for many years to come. 2.Accessibility to a professional and high qualified team, most importantly, but not limited to, property management. 3.At the close of escrow, management has placed a well-qualified and screened tenant into home at a previously agreed to market rent so that the home is cash flowing from Day 1. 4.MAYBE turnkey offers financing options in house as well, for ease of transaction. 5.As an investor, one can remain virtually passive by receiving monthly reports from the PM and receiving cash flow checks.

In the Central Valley, the summer temps routinely climb into the triple digits. 

These are all very valid questions based on my letters, but I'm really uncomfortable combating them.

The Seller obviously is uncomfortable with you and the whole arrangement which goes back to my initial comment above.Second question:  is the Seller living in the property? 

This should be a part of your routine screening but it's especially important to do a home visit when pets are involved.Don't take the departing landlord's word for it.If you are unable to do a home inspection, I would turn the applicant down.

Triple deckers are routinely selling in the $1.5M - $2.5M range anywhere in Boston, except Dorchester and Mattapan - and those are catching up.I would look in Plymouth and Bristol counties. 

Hmmm.I do see this next move as being a place we’ll stay at least 5 years, maybe longer, but the idea of dropping a ton of extra cash makes me uncomfortable...hopefully the seller will work with us of we’ll find something else.

Losing $250 stinks, but a small price to pay compared to identity theft or having a landlord you are uncomfortable with. 

I am very uncomfortable for paying money out in advance.

Losing the money of a family member will make for many uncomfortable Thanksgivings.8) Don’t come here asking if Peter Pauper from Peoria, who just sent you a copy of a driver’s license and some BS paperwork, is a legit lender in your state.