https://www.biggerpockets.com/filesI have uploaded my own spreadsheet file to my BP Fileplace which has an analyzer and estimator tool if you want to check it out:https://www.biggerpockets.com/files/user/drobertson/file/house-flipping-spreadsheet-6-lite

We now own 11 platted lots that are supposedly unbuildable, being highly taxed, and require being maintained and mowed continuously.

Your financial activities are essentially outsourced to another institution, which may have its own policies and vulnerabilities.What Can You Do?

I am looking for advice if I should just pay my taxes up front when using pre tax funds in lieuof having the IRA own the property and deferring taxes

Of course the franchise is owned by a broker but there is no indication that he/she has ever sold a property. 

Hey Alex, I moved to Columbus a few years ago (from Portland, Oregon which was super expensive) to become a full time real estate investor, and ever since, I've completed quite a lot of BRRRRs, flips, and own a successful rental portfolio here in Columbus Ohio.

I would really like this to work out, I want to be a landlord and hopefully own 5+ more rentals.

Our mission is to make owning rental property easy.Looking forward to engaging with this awesome community, sharing insights, and learning from all of you.

We have a low interest rate compared to today, a bunch of equity in the house, would be a reasonable cost for the investment since I’d still own the other half . 

You always have the option of walking away.My recommended course of action is that you extend the contract so that you get YOUR OWN hvac guy can get out to take a look.Your hvac guy won't mind the quick and easy job of diagnosis, give him an hour or two of work, have him write up a lightly padded repair estimate and hand that over to the seller and ask for that amount to be credited.