You are effectively paying a premium for someone else's work, and taking on all their risk, so I would make sure to understand as much of the risk as possible.What an informative response!

I've had clients buy without ever seeing the place or seeing it hours before closing...the right boots on the ground is key but, while most realtors are ethical, no one has more invested in your long term success than you so don't rely on information from others who could profit from it.

These are just a few of the questions of the many that come to mind, but feel free to provide any information you feel could help myself and others.

We're still figuring out what to do with this SC property.What would be the best decision here, sell and buy something else for investment or rent this out and wait for equity to go up?

It may be beneficial to consult with a real estate development expert or financial advisor to help weigh the pros and cons of each option and make an informed decision. 

It's all about doing your due diligence and getting a thorough inspection before making any decisions.

There are excellent resources for new users on platforms such as BiggerPockets.Get more information by reading books and taking online courses about real estate.

Patience and staying well-informed are vital in real estate.

If there is no information provided about financing, you can reach out to the listing agent or home seller to inquire if owner financing is an option.

In that I would not own the home in my name (the trust would) under those assumptions.Is this even a reasonable strategy to jump start a real estate investment portfolio, any alternative ideas are welcome.I hope I have stated this with enough clarity, Please let me know if additional information is required to answer the question.