That's not a deal killer, but just something to plan for as you think this through.I'd personally try to get the carriage house up to rentable standards and rent it.

-Do you use a standardized guarantor form for the parents to sign?

And they'd get some income - which should be less than standard market rates.Just an idea ;-)

How about a standard purchase of the duplex and some creative financing on the SFH?

Part of this comes from simply maintaining your property to inhabitable standards, which is more than what a lot of absentee landlords can offer.

The envelope size I need is Standard #10 Business Envelope.I tried Staples and USPS self-sealing envelopes, but the adhesive doesn't close the envelope lid completely and I am forced to put two small pieces of tape on the back-side.

we agreed on a price including our estimate of what we would need to fix the house to the fha 203k standards.

Very heavy on fair housing (make sure you know what year certain things became a protected class) and ethical standards

But if HE sold through a realtor, he would be forced to upgrade to a much higher standard than if I moved in, AND he has one hell of a commission fee to pay on top of that.

I wonder if the snow removal standard established by the municipality the property is in could serve as a reasonable standard.