It lasts forever, and they will install. 

I bold this so you remember this FOREVER.

@Davido Davido You've referred to a consumer debt collection statute... which concerns a legal (money) remedy such as collecting on the note or a deficiency.

I'm just looking to buy real estate for rental or flip purposes.Dodd-Frank creates certain restrictions on the ability to sell real estate using seller financing (which don't apply because in this scenario because non-consumer purchases are exempt), but how does it impact someone's ability to market themselves as a real estate buyer who makes their purchases using custom tailored seller financed offers?

I suspect that your handyman buddy realized that he was getting the short end of the stick so took on better paying jobs while you and the wife did the time consuming grunt work.

According to the report, you're feeding this alligator $500 cash flow out of your own pocket each month, and the ARV is LOWER than the total project cost,making refinancing difficult.  30 year amortization will take forever to generate equity via pay down of principle.  

So, right after 2007 the bottom fell out and it was really bad for what felt like forever, but within a decade the market so thoroughly "healed" that it was well above the pre-collapse heights.In the words of some ancient Chinese proverb, or @Brandon Turner, "the best time to plant a tree is 30 years ago. 

There should be a Law for consumer protection in your state - in MA it's 93 (A) and you are entitled to triple damages including attorney fees incurred for the case.

I am relocating to the greater Sacramento area for my last duty station until I retire in 6 years (from the military, not forever).

Some people lump consumer credit card spending on wasteful unnecessary toys in the same category as a mortgage that in 5 years makes you a lot of money.