You should verify that you are eligible to transfer the funds from your existing retirement account (e.g. if the funds are in your current employer 401k, you will likely not be able to transfer until you quit your job).

Existing tenant moved out over the $700 rent which encouraged us to rehab the unit and we are now at $850/m on that unit.

His "lawyer" may not even exist, and he's trying to not honor the contract. 

If the equipment is older than 10 years, I would say stop wasting money on repairs and get it replaced (you may be able to reuse the existing outside compressor it uses R410a refrigerant, but if its R22, it junk).The way they left it, it is not operational for either heat or cooling.Personally, I would review what you paid to the original HVAC company and see how they took advantage of you.

Jon  Point 3) requires just a little history,a) the folks pushing this current measure (15) are in large part the same folks that pushed the last Prop 13 measure (the huge educational bond issuance Prop 13 that failed a couple of years ago, not to be confused with the Property Tax Prop 13 that overwhelmingly passes years ago and is still law today).b) that group is also largely the very same coalition that has in the past complained very bitterly about existing Prop Tax Prop 13 and pledged all efforts to fully repeal its benefits for everyone.c) Since this coalition not only failed in its historic attemps to fully repeal real estate tax prop 13 as they pledged to do, but also in their much more current attemp to end run real estate tax prop 13 with the recent monster bond issue prop 13 they have now come to the realization that their only option is a back door attack attempting to sell 15 as a tax on fat cats, classic divide and conquer tactics. 

Well the reference room in Philadelphia never picks up the phone or responds to voicemail but via leveraging the tip of a record existing in 1969 was indeed helpful.

We have since updated the house by redoing the kitchen (quarts counter tops, tile floor, tile backsplash, and upgraded to stainless steel appliances.

But she said the price is good because its on a lake, so its a vacation destination. i dont know about that, the lake only exists to cool the coal plant on the other side of it.

If you are not a big fan of wholesalers, why are you fielding questions in a forum that exists to help wholesalers?  

If you have an architect involved then it may just not be as simple as removing the existing items and replacing with new.