Your grandmother should retain ownership and pass it onto you to benefit for the step-up in basis, avoiding a significant tax burden upon its sale, especially if she isn't already liable for estate tax.

After initial discussions, observe how quickly they respond to follow-up emails.

First, its best to identify a strategy, choose a market that aligns with it, and establish your Core 4.The main challenge I observed is that individuals often lack a clear end goal or strategy, or they select a market that doesn't align with it. 

In most seller financing deals, the buyer takes ownership of the property immediately upon closing, but the seller retains a lien on the property until the loan is fully paid off.

Common fees will include a set-up fee, a leasing fee for each turnover or a lease renewal fee, marking up maintenance, retaining late fees, and more.

I wanted to put the property into an LLC or Corp to limit liabilities once converted into a short term rental and wanted to retain to retain the 121 exclusion benefit. there is probably $350k+ of potential capital gains on the property. 

Being from Beaufort as well, I completely agree with your observations about the challenges here.

@Brian Malavsky We actually have an attorney drafted lease that states the following "If the Landlord maintains the Deposit in an interest-bearing bank account, Resident consents to Landlord retaining the interest, except as required by law."

Pros/cons each way, it's not expected in my industry that we niche down that far so it's not an "either/or" question I personally have to answer, the above observations are just from working with both groups. 

The net worth impact from a rental is calculated by taking the value of the underlying asset (a home worth, say, $500,000) and subtracting the liabilities held against the asset (ignoring retained earnings).