In addition, I have a very 'traditional' parent who kept telling me I had to have a husband to help me, otherwise I would never be able to afford to buy a home (I was very happy to prove him wrong.)

Both state that parents nowadays are actually more interested in renting or even flat out buying condo units to keep their kids safe from reckless teenagers or limit their exposure so that when they come home their chances of accidentally sniping off grandpa are lowered.This makes me wonder if these types of properties are still worth chasing.

Storage space if they can't sort it out, tell them you will lock the door as you don't want to be their parent.

I help my parents manage their 4 story 9 family walk up in NYC.

My wife thinks that because the parents would be upstairs and the children would be downstairs that we would have a hard time finding a renter.

I hope your parents find this forum and realize what a great young man they are raising. 

The loss of a parent is hard enough, then there is settling the estate (I've had to do this recently as well). 

That will go a long way to establishing your credit.Also, will your parents or a really good friend add you as an additional user to one of their credit cards? 

My parents own a property in Los Angeles, California.

Should we get parents to co-sign?