Make sure you contribute fully to your employer's retirement program and/or IRAs to max retirement savings in your 20's.

We've reached out with: attempt to create a partial payment plan, provided info on every relevant grant or assistance program available to them, provided info on local employers who were hiring, and offered cash for keys if they moved out.

I have zero specific knowledge of this other than knowing someone who has a house with a video game addiction program out in the country where no one knows and no one cares....but my gut says you would have zero chance of doing this with a townhome lease because on top of every state, county, city and ward issue you will need to navigate, you have the homeowners association and very close neighbors who will raise holy hell.

I would research the 1031 Exchange program.

Also, if you haven't purchased a home yet look into first time home buyers program.

At the end of the day I just want to get paid, I don't care if it is from the tenant, or some gov. program, but an I owe you doesn't pay the bills.  

It has been a functioning ADU for 6 years and there were no modifications to the exterior and only a gas line added for a stove and dry walling up and doorway in the interior.

What does this mean, do we now have to sign up for all programs?

I have two 1TB photo libraries that are too big to back up with Time Machine with my current 3TB Time Machine drive, but are handled by Backblaze.As far as Microsoft Word, Excel, etc, there are Mac versions of these programs. 

Not if you're inquiring about current loan programs and requirements, and how long they have had those programs and the various loan types they prefer, and whether they keep or sell their conforming paper.