You don't want to get trapped in a debt spiral borrowing money to pay for more borrowed money. 

Know quite a few realtors, contractors and other investors as my wife was born and raised and I’ve called Beaufort home for over 10 years.  

Sounds like a trap. 

Back to signing over our house and our first born.

I hate that my equity is trapped (my interest rate is SO low I can't/won't refi). 

now granted unless your born into a pretty wealthy family situation most of us starting out were broke I know I was.. pumping gas  bagging groceries and selling fuller brush door to door. :)

I was born and raised in the Hudson Valley just north of NYC.  

After years of living in California and Vegas I’ve recently moved back to Northern Michigan where I was born and raised.

OP:As far as "shoddy work", or worrying about "underlying issues", the world is "buyer beware"  Never fall into the trap of trusting a seller of any type to tell you the whole truth about a house (or anything for that matter). 

Thankful for my kids and 9 Grandkids latest one born in June !!