The emotional issues are hard enough, but are there any legal issues that I should be thinking about?  

I love pioneers.That said there is not one but there are a few strategies you can use to succeed, and like real estate, they are all different and you need to find the one that makes you enjoy the game ;-)When deciding on the where and what and how, never be attached emotionally to the assets.

You can't get emotional attached to a property where the numbers don't work well.

Have policies in place and try not to get emotional.

In other words, the animal must work, perform tasks or services, or alleviate the emotional effects of your disability in order to qualify.

great advice above.Realize, the price is artificailly low to capitalize on peoples' emotions. 

Dont waste your emotional energy on guessing or assuming or feeling like you are wasting anyones time.

Being that I was going to live there, the emotional part of wanting to live in a specific area and quirks, etc did play a part in my final decision.

Particularly with new investors, they get emotionally attached to a property which shades their ability to reason clearly (an agent trying to force the deal doesn't help either).

Needless to say, I left with mixed emotions but feeling empowered that I need to do this!