You will need smart people to shepherd you through the noise and sharks.  

A few months ago I decided that it was time for a change and my wife and I are now under contract on our first SFH investment property in Plainfield, IL that will be a buy and hold rental. 

ok I have a property in NC I want to put under contract but everyone is saying make sure the numbers are right.

and start calling everyone he ever met, just trying to get it locked under contract.

You might mean ASSIGNING their contracts, not selling. 

I'm planning to use the contract that I've gained from a friend who has 40+ properties2. 1 house is rented and one vacant3.

I googled it "A land trust is a private legal contract in which the owner of real estate transfers the title of the property to a trustee.

Texas is a verbal contract state...so even if you simply said it over the phone the applicant could pursue civil action and attempt to force compliance to the agreement.2.

@Jay Elvin I'm not in your area, but I would double check that they are licensed realtors if required by your state for leasing activity and look over their contract for any red flags.

So if I get this house I am looking at under contract and the owner lives there, how do I go about doing a showing with an end buyer?