We went over and our kids played outside while we negotiated and discussed our goals.

@Robert Ellis Mpls has a shortage of housing, the city is actively trying to add housing in the  area. 

This sounds like a recipe for disaster...and I think I am justified in that assessment since one of the places you have considered investing is with a company that are complete scam artists.All investing is a risk based activity, but people need to learn and understand better risk assessments and mitigation.

Generally, if real estate investing is a long term strategy for you, then playing the market cycles isn’t necessary.

Hire a full time agent instead of a part timer playing at being an agent.

I have tried to fight this battle on the West coast and you can for sure landlock a property if  the person owned both properties and failed to give a together with easement when they sold one .the easement by necessity sounds like the play here and then its up to a trier of fact and maybe the other party wont want to spend legal fee's defending. ???

The house is very nice and is between Indy and Bloomington, IN which has been a very active market, but slowing down as we head into Fall.  

You may not mix IRA and personal funds or otherwise transact between yourself and the plan.Several providers of such plans are active here on BP and there is a lot of good information here on the forums. 

Any advise on how to play the angle?

KW has a competitive CAP/Commission split structure (I can explain in more detail), tons of training every day of the week, we have active investors in our office, good mentors and an energetic office.