An option period is a specific timeframe that both parties agree to in which the buyer can terminate the contract for any reason without risking their earnest money.

I also use the Vrbo tools and it provides all the automation I need and I'm not spending money on a bunch of extra software 

Ask your grandpa for the money.

We are using a hard money loan at 9.9%. 

Or is potentially my only option then to look at hard money loans?

a first second third and fourth. although for those investing being in 8th or 10th place is pretty poor position to be in. good luck with it.. when you start to be an operator managing others money then you need to step into the real world of finance and how to set them up.

I know it is a tax on money I didn't pay tax on for all those 30 years, but it still feels like that is unjust somehow.

In my opinion, working with a trustworthy, valuable realtor can make you way more money than trying to sell on your own.

On that thread most Landlords ( Housing providers) disagreed with her thought process and though to spend money lobbying this was not warranted.

I asked him how much money he was intending to invest.