It's essential to have a trusted advisor, especially when it comes to taxes.

, and sort out your money matters (check your credit, save for down payment).

List every town where your closest family and friends (only the ones you trust) live.3.

@Lucas Carl, When you talk about your cabin with a purchase price of $500k, I'm assuming a 25% down payment + any costs to furnish/fix/renovate as the initial cash outlay (for example $150k total). 

What I know about this house is that there should be no mortgage (messaged realtor to verify), last sold for $60k in 2004.Rent in my area; $1,200 is usually pushing it but doable.https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/200-Walnut...At the end of the day, I love the idea of seller financing but I have many more questions when it comes to different types of properties that might be mortgaged and how does one pay the monthly payments on top of paying the equity to the seller at the same time.

They will counteract that by having you put larger down payments or leave more equity in the property so you are less likely to walk away from your asset. 

I am a local chicago mortgage lender but we are also licensed in IN and surrounding areas and I would be happy to connect you with one of our trusted partners. 

We’ve got about $175k in equity due to the large down payment needed to assume the mortgage. 

I told them that it was a better idea that, instead of buying a home first, we can buy an investment property and keep renting after we build some equity, sell it and put the down payment for 2 houses or a duplex and live in one and rent the other one (for me, i could keep renting until we buy a lot of investment properties and then move to one of them), but my family wants to buy a home firts and then the investment property.Can someone give me a light of what is better or the pros and cons.Thank you so much.

To maximize the number of transactions you’re involved in you will need to:Be Top of Mind when they think about moving - which requires consistent reminders.Be seen as an Expert – which requires a consistent message and Evidence of Success storiesGain their Trust – which requires communicating integritySo, start out by listing everyone you know in an Excel spreadsheet.