There are a lot of forms to have to protect yourself in MA!!

IBC's work great for an added layer of asset protection and can certainly hold corporations that own a piece of property.

That way you buy some time and protect your position.

This is to protect you from day 1 not being deeply under water.Seller financing is better if you won';t qualify for a bank mortgage, some times the seller will ask for less down than a bank.Bank financing is always cheaper, lower interest rate, price is always verified by an appraiser, but you need to go through the frustrating closing process of under writing all your doc.

The first couple of things you have to do is to set up your company as a corporation of some type to protect you personally and find/get a local Team put together that will return your phone calls.  

Professional services are generally valued based on expertise, knowledge, length of time they have practiced, success rates in comparison to similar alternative services.

@Andy K  Here is a very good reference from the Environmental Protection Agency.  

All of these properties are traditionally financed, 30 yr term, with no outside investment (except the first house with my brother).I'd buy again in Tennessee, but I think I need to improve my legal protection and lease.  

Can we protect ourselves from the owner deciding to sell in the case we do rent to own?

Many times, standard form contracts you may find as part of your organization are not sufficient to protect you.