Most are 3 to 5 years and some push to 7. 10 is out there but very tough to get.Most asset classes cycle every 7 to 10 years so you want at least that amount of time with a loan so you can refi or sell at the optimal time and not because you used short term debt for a stabilized asset where the existing cash flow is the main return.  

Seems a shame since the existing one was only 2 years old, but decided it was simpler and probably not much more expensive since dishwashers don't cost that much.

If there's a lot of equity, think about "equity stripping" or getting a mortgage with most of the equity out in the form of a loan thats tax-free, so the seller does not have a lot of money coming to them, most of the money when buyer pays off the  existing financing, it will all go to pay off mortgage.4.

Does this work only if the seller owns the property free and clear, or can it get messy if the seller tries to do this with an existing mortgage/lender already on the property?

I have been staring at Zillow all day looking for something that doesn't seem to exist as far as a moderately priced multi/single starter property in good shape(heh), have spoken with a couple lenders for pre-approval and had agents circling my house waiting for me to come outside.....hehe.I decided to take a look at a property tomorrow(single family) but nothing serious yet being as I am very new to this.

I am going to purchase for $180k and do a wrap with the existing seller and his HML, construction bid is just over $150k and I have private money for this.

Invest in things like Lending Club and Prosper to earn interest on my existing savings?

I would like to split the lot, sell of some acreage, and keep the (remaining) lot with the existing home.  

Thankfully, Northern VA area has robust rental market, so I would rather buy something that doesn't have an existing tenant and then put a brand new tenant, and that way have full control. 

By safely retire I mean <1% chance to have to do anything besides manage your property manager.Many guidelines exist for retiring with a portfolio of stocks and bonds, from safe withdrawal rates based on simulations, to specific bonds/stocks mixes at every age.