If your goal is to reduce that self-employment tax to a minimum, an S Corporation is the best entity to use.

I would definitely like to find a deal below market value as that would reduce my risk.Thanks for humoring my newbie questions!

I would assume it has to be public knowledge that someone is unable to legally sign a contract. 

These people are very public and have a reputation, so I'm not nearly as concerned.

You can PM me if you don't want it public.

In public, as long as I'm walking around, he's fine.  

In Denver, those that are priced out of the urban core can still live the urban lifestyle (no car and walk or ride public transport) but live where rents and homes are cheaper.

If it took two years to make $25,000, your annualised ROI is reduced to 12.5%.

If they are willing to invest with you through a US LLC or obtain an ITIN (again I know your specific facts) this makes things easier otherwise you generally need to withhold 30% on passive income paid to foreigners (unless reduced by a treaty).

We've been told that once the house has been rehabbed we could go to the magistrate and make a case for repairing the whole house and the lien could be reduced to less then $5,000 for administration fees.