Did you end up going with them?

@Travis Timmons thank your for sharing these details in your personal experience.

Does anyone have experience with this and how much do you pay for referrals? 

I'd expect something in the 70%-75% range, depending on your experience and credit score3b) Also, do you need to borrow $160k?

@Zack Whiting We don't know your experience but jumping into auctions is not the easiest path for REI.

It is in small town of Milolii on south end of the Kona Coast and I could list it for about $600k.  

Are there other pathways I should consider, based on my goals and experience?

@Jose Saladin Purchasing your sister’s home as a live-in rental offers instant equity (~$170K), tax benefits, and landlord experience, making it a solid first step into real estate investing.

I personally have nearly the same experience in almost every retail bank I enter these days....skeleton staff providing slow service.

I was wondering if I should negotiate a decent price with the landlord and assign the contract to end buyer.