Because you will be in a position to help because of your long term financial planning. 

We obviously would like to sell and get it off the books, but a lease option could be attractive if we could refi, get more desirable payments and have positive cash-flow.

If I buy a home for $65,000 and have a mortgage of $350/month plus expenses that add up to $1,000/month; then rent it for $1500 I now would have a positive cash-flow of $500.

On two of my houses I cash out refinanced them and they still flow positive albeit only a few hundred a month, but I got out all my money invested in those houses and a few thousand extra on top.

Being in the unique position I’m in with family being flexible on the deal I didn’t know if there was a way to make it work.

Getting myself in a better financial position and then at that point possibly considering getting back into real estate. 

I could use that money to transition into the bigger investments (apartment complex).I have two properties in California which do not bring me that much positive cash flow, but have gained a lot of value over the last 5 years.

What is your preferred method for taking control of a property with a first position lien?...

What an incredible life and still time to build a rental portfolio.As Don Said, your ticket to get that portfolio positioned in Charlotte will be using the 1031 exchange. 

You need to have positive cash flow each month.