Is there any benefit of doing a home inspection for a buyer.

You tale on a liability with debt.What you called your opportunity cost appears to be the sum lost by not taking the other investment, it's really the difference of the benefits received.

Wasted a lot of time on giving them the benefit of the doubt, because they seemed like good people. 

After reading your dissertation I see that you have entered boot camp and now ready to take action....lol.....that's fantastic.i am sure the BP community will benefit from your exchanges as you look forward to ours.Good luck and best wishes with your plans.

@Jordan Williamson While an indirect transaction, yes it would be a prohibited transaction because you would ultimately benefit from the IRA transaction in a roundabout way.

I guess in my haste to benefit from the income on my current job before I quit I thought it was a good Idea to try to increase my portfolio while still being able to use different financial  solutions.

Perhaps we need to talk privately, but I think this is a strong enough strategy that many people might benefit from reading about it.  

I respond that transaction costs did not get reduced to benefit consumers.  

A benefit to him would be the interest and capital gains if he choose to seller finance it for you guys.  

If you see a chance for appreciation in the area based on home prices over the last few years (or some insider information like a new hospital opening in the area) and you can stomach breaking even on the month to month for the shot at a higher price in 5 years this could work.Otherwise I would probably try and hold out- there is probably a sexier deal somewhere in town with similar benefits and a lower price tag.Good luck!