Should I take her to small claims court?

This is purely my opinion, I haven't done a deal before and don't claim to be an intelligent investor, but this is what I plan on doing in the near future.

How to verify the claimed rental income?

Too often, proposals from novices are unrealistic.

The leading real state books and educators teach the following basic approaches to buy real estate creatively.Some good and some not so good.Later I'll discuss the pros and cons of the best creative financing methods so you can determine which to use for your particular situationLand ContractsOptions, Leases, Options to purchaseAITD's (All inclusive trust deeds or wraps)Seller carry back deeds of trusts/mortgagesTaking subject to the existing financingNot recording the deed, which is dangerous if not properly protectedRecording a memorandum of agreement Trusts:Transfer the property to the sellers trust, get the bank to approve the transfer and then have the beneficiary of the sellers trust changed to the buyer.Just transferring title into the buyers name hoping the lender won't call the loan.Equity shareAny of these will trigger the due on sale clause and as a buyer or seller if you haven't put safeguards in place, you are unprotected against claims against the title from showing up and or the lender calling the loan due.Are you prepared to take the chance that the seller may further encumber the property or resell to someone else?

Record owner will claim forced detainer, ejectment, etc.

When that happened I had been with them for over 10 years with no claims and no late payments.

I like working it backwards sometimes....knowing the end result, process and problems....then figuring out the strategy or analyzing the multiple BS strategies/claims that abound regarding the "easy money" in tax liens.

I'm also wondering if my profit of $20,000 is unrealistic.

Seller is the only one on the mortgage, however he did quit claim his then wife on to title.