In this scenario, a young professional working a good job making a median salary, recently free of college debt, and rapidly beginning to save money, has two options - either live with parents/family very close to work OR pursue a house hack further from work.

My parents are working on their second home in Providence, RI and have suggested we purchase a home there.

I've tried an agency before and felt like a lost child.

@Greg Raymond You need to read Rich Dad, Poor Dad.Advise, go ahead... but "convince"... you're wasting your time.I learned long ago not to try to impose my beliefs about real estate on my parents.

His stimulus check was repossessed by the state for non-payment of child support.

It could go to his children, or if no children back to his parents, then branches out from there.   

However, if it is a divorce or or other problem, (was arrested, went through rehab, IRS problems, child support problems, or such) the matter hasn't been solved yet and that is a problem.

My parents have duplexes and triplexes for a total of 50 units.

That means their tax returns are not required and the parent tax return absorbs all the transactions.

50 years old, divorced, decent job, own my home, 1 child in college, 1 in High School.