(someone please, correct me because this is the way I understand it)Partnering with someone with money.Use your bank for a line of credit, which you will need to have a good credit score and a good salary to get qualified.Use hard money lenders (accepting their conditions but you need money to fill a gap since they do not finance you 100% of the project).Use crowdfunding money.Have cash of your own to finance a whole project.It doesn't matter what method of financing you use, knowing all the facts on a specific property will be required and the list is long beginning from the year built.

Fort Wayne investors, I am looking for a CPA and/or Financial Planner in our area who understands real estate investors and can help me strategize my taxes and plan for early retirement.  

The owner isn't hostile and understands that they have to go but wants to remain until the end of the month because they are broke.

From what I understand the home would be in my name and offer very little assets protection.

Try understanding what your buyers want, and then go create that supply. 

If I understand you correctly this birddog brought you a willing and able buyer so you as the seller should pay for his service unless he had other arrangements with his buyer. 

Once you find the best candidate(s), walk the job site with them start trying to understand their side of the business a little.

I understand your concerns.  

For example, you could buy the house subject to the existing financing (i.e. taking over payments) with the understanding that she will be responsible for payments for up to the next three months while the house is fixed up or until you close.

If I am understanding the above correctly, does this mean that we should buy a more expensive property for our first, perhaps a triplex with three income-producing apartments, since that is our one opportunity to pay only 3.5% down?