A bird in the hand...Good luck to you and dad. 

Additionally, inquire about any upcoming assessments for major repairs, such as siding replacements or roof work, as these can significantly impact your finances.The selling agent should provide some of this information, but it’s a good idea to verify it independently.

-Tips for managing the HELOC and property finances effectively.Others have advised that a HELOC only makes sense for short term use, not long term due to it's variable rate and risk of over leveraging.

The legitimacy of the contract probably only really matters if you have to go to court/arbitration to enforce it.That said, your title company would be a good place to start in terms of getting a legal review, I'm sure they have a real estate lawyer(s) on staff or retainer depending on the state.

@Shawn Good I live in fox lake.

It’s true that not being able to drive can make things a bit more complex, but you can definitely find ways around it.Using rideshare or public transportation is a viable option, especially in areas with good transit systems.

Good luck!

Here are some good places to start: http://www.biggerpockets.com/meet- find and connect with other BP members that are in your area.http://www.biggerpockets.com/alerts - Set up keyword alerts to be notified of the topics that interest you.And, of course thehttp://www.biggerpockets.com/forums - ask any question about real estate!

Good Day All!

@Allen TracyI know a lot of CPAs in San Diego if that's an okay distance for you.