You could even just install a game camera by the door outside so you catch him actually breaking in. 

@Greg Kasmer - Great eye on the Vacancy number.

So the real estate markets I’ve had my eye on is Nashville, Knoxville, and Charlotte.

That is, the deed transfers to you, but her loan remains in place and you take over making those payments (and likely, day one is catching up on any missed payments).

(Not the best time of year to start that.)Our loans and credit score is catching up to us.

Can the third be incorporated into the second and rented as one big unit?

I would listen to the BP Podcast with Thach Nguyen on how he knocked on one hundred doors a day , five days a week for ten years and that got him one million USD per year from that ACTIVITY.Make sure you dont miss the part where he says one home seller let loose a dog on him and he had to get attention at the hospital from the bite.I would also pay attention to the Tom Hopkins Champion formula to embrace rejection on pages 110-125 in his book Mastering the Art of the Sale.Especially the part where he says , you are paid for each rejection you getThen TAKE ACTION, make the calls, follow up leads, ask for referrals, make offers, buy properties, choose your exit strategy etcin making calls i would attempt to incorporate "negative phrasing" as taught by Steve Trang, to locate buyers, sellers, private money lenders.I would also set a saving rate as taught by Anthony Robbins from book Money, master the game, becoming of an investor, taking advantage of the power of compounding I would also keep in mind the 10000hour rule from Malcom Gladwell's book, Outliers reminding myself that attaining world class takes commitment

Rarely is it true.....Keep your eyes on this house as a learning experience....see what it actually sells for.

The latter I feel like I would be paying them to catch them up to speed on things I already know and for them to educate themselves on the bill and current situations in the ever changing landscape.

Ive talked to numerous agents and Im on their MLS lists but there so many eyes on those properties.