Because you are risk-averse and a wealth preserver, you would be affected far more by large losses that can result from high-risk, high-return investments.

I'd like to preserve our tentative amicability, without just giving in to his methods.

You hit it on the nail that I did get lost in the weeds when I read that article about interest rates and just completely forgot about everything else that goes into real estate.

Are you saying you can take about 8% a year of the principle balance in loans while still being able to preserve the actual principle?

You understand you will owe their purchase price,plus anything they have done to preserve, maintain, and secure the property, plus probably taxes for the past 2 years, and 50% penalty on top of all that.

Conversely, if rates spiked I could have asked them to re-amortize the loan back out to 15 years and by stretching it out lower my payments and preserve my cash-flow.

TRUST me the extra $ is worth the sleep.Another contractor friend was constantly getting nailed by mystery slip & fall & back pain injuries until he went the Temp route.

This also scales well as you add investment properties in a market.To do it on your own, properly, and successfully for one (1) property, you need a cleaning company, a way to manage reservations, a local handyman, a phone and laptop, a branded website (see VRMB), round the clock availability for your guests to preserve a 4/5 star rating online, and a tax accountant deeply familiar and actively advise on how to max your vacation real estate.

As groups preserve to shift in the direction of online operations, having a robust online presence has turn out to be essential.

The first option avoids capital gains taxes for both you and your father and preserves the step up in basis, but, does not avoid probate after your father's death.