BP podcast, UBG, books and YouTube videos are very beneficial and I love learning, but one of these days I will have to make a decision.Lastly, I should probably wait until I have a job, even if it's part-time.

If your equity is really high, you could refinance and get some cash back out which would be really beneficial. 

I appreciate any information that I can receive, as the answers to these questions will likely dictate weather I invest into property rentals vs Real-Estate Syndicates in order to diversify my Roth IRA away from stocks/mutual funds.

Whether is saving on taxes, investing in real estate, finding mutual funds to park your money into, understanding interest (and compound interest) or just knowing the difference between high yield bank accounts. 

You have to believe that you are offering a win/win scenario to the property owner.In my understanding of lease options, it is beneficial to a property owner when they want a good tenant who they are willing to sell the property to at some point in the future - for a contracted cost.

Working closely with a qualified custodian is very beneficial.

I understand that we had a mutual agreement to put blinds up in lieu of rent decrease to cover those costs early on in your lease, but it seems as though those blinds didn't stay with the property.We had to hire a cleaner to clean: the refrigerator (inside, on top of, and underneath), the inside of the oven, shelves in the kitchen cabinets, tile in the shower still had hairs on them, windows, and all of the hardwoods needed mopped.

The house is getting older and I am thinking of cashing out and putting the money in a mutual fund.

Typically, if the other person knows that you are looking out for their interests, then you are more likely to come to a mutually agreeable deal.

Yes we currently live in Fairfield County as well, since were new to investing trying to figure out which city will be the most beneficial for out first investment.