Learn about imputed interest which is minimum interest  Learn about reverse mortgages compared with installment sales , A good source is AARP  Learn about annuities and compare them with installment sales  Use the term legacy, leaving a legacy of your children or church or a charity "The cash flow survives your death  Mr. seller meaning that your gift can be inherited by someone that you care about or some institution you care about" If the seller is gainfully employed with W-2 income, and it's a free and clear house, you can have them get a 50% mortgage, then buy the house subject to existing financing, take over the payments, and give them a single payment note for their equity There are between 34 to 40% of all houses that are free and  clear of mortgages.

Of course I go to the store and want to spend an extra $150 for the sexy stainless steel model. I

If you can't survive financially on your husband's income, you should look for a job to keep things afloat and look into real estate part time.

I built and built the model I wanted and worked on building a business.

I figure if we can double my invested money after paying ourselves to survive we would then probably part ways and go at it alone so that there is more profit potential for each of us.

-If someone does not pay the note, can you always automatically go into foreclosure mode and then essentially own the property in question?

Why don't they survive the cycles I wonder? 

With where we are in the cycle now, 12+ years is even better...did they survive the big downturn?

@Marcia Maynard  in the deep south were section 8 is 10 X more prevelant than in the NW.. this is the case ALWAYS when you transfer ownership and or your setting up a new tenant.. those that want to evict if its a little late probably have not been through the system enough times to understand that the govmit just does not move at the same speed we do  :)  hope you survived the snow !!!

For that reason, I think a discounted cash flow model is the only safe way to value a property.