If your business naturally transitions into other ares that is great but you don't want to uproot your entire strategy for this money partner only to find out later that this money partner is long gone.

The taxes are 9000 a year  I couldn't pull that off and a mortgage and insurance and oil for heat.

Guillaume:The reason you were taxed as 100% income versus capital gains was more due to the nature of your transaction (i.e. subdividing, flipping) which saw the property treated as inventory not a capital investment and not because your purchased the property with a corporation (we do that all the time).Corporations can realize capital gains just the same as corporeal individuals.

One of the problems with insurance is that you can not predict the nature of everything someone may sue you for. 

I live in the area, worked in oil & gas here for a few years, and I am also from northeast Ohio. 

Check out FHA and 203k loans, HUD properties, and things of that nature.

We are releasing this toolkit well in advance of the effective date to help the mortgage industry come into compliance with the new rules,” said CFPB Director Richard Cordray.The toolkit, which can be found here, provides a step-by-step guide to help consumers understand the nature and costs of real estate settlement services, define what affordable means to them and find their best mortgage.Complete Article from HousingWire

I am conservative by nature although many think I take to many risks (again relative term).So where do you invest outside your home state and why?

Just the nature of small town workers not all are professionalized:  bank account, newer smart phone, have cash to wait for a check to clear etc.A contractor suggested I use green dot prepaid card to pay him. 

Sometimes it is hard to garner things from posts because of the terms being mixed up or misused.That said, OP (brother et all) purchased an asset that naturally flows into real property at auction.