By safely retire I mean <1% chance to have to do anything besides manage your property manager.Many guidelines exist for retiring with a portfolio of stocks and bonds, from safe withdrawal rates based on simulations, to specific bonds/stocks mixes at every age.  

We made a lot of mistakes and definitely over spent but we learned for next time which is a reward in itself.

I honestly didn't know they exist: the broker who rent the house out for you!!!

The rewards are handsome but not without significant cost and peril.

But for all intents and purposes, the best way to go about it is to secure a contract with him to buy his house subject to the existing mortgage, which will absolutely get the trustee to call off the auction, then refinance it out in your name.

The existing structure itself matters.

Discover offers rewards, Citi has a flexible auto pay and has a very accessible phone app while Capital One allow payments on your deposit.

There is the possibility of finding a distress, condo in south San Jose for about 100k condo apartment conversion, it's just a very competitive market probably won't find on MLS does deals but they exist.

Where there is risk there is always greater reward! 

Never select any applicant that you know will be a bad fit out of fear.Choose the tenant that is best for you and your existing tenant.