I was considering getting the Marshall & Swift residential cost handbook or their software, but wanted to see what others are using, or if there are any comparable resources that I could  consider before dropping $500.What do you use? 

Does the description of their breaking of lease and confirmation of us to either Rent/Sell the property to allow them to not be liable for monthly payments through the remaining months have validity of the issue in the first paragraph above?    

Then confirm taxes with the county tax collector. 

Software engineers and other professions are pretty lucrative right now.  

Confirm everything and build your own model that is based on your cost base to understand how much you can pay for the property to cash flow appropriately for you.For starters, there's some great templates on the BP FilePlace for evaluating apartment complexes.Short list of things to think about / budget for (outside of taxes & insurance of course):-Plan on at least 5% vacancy.  7-8% if you want to be conservative-Are you going to manage it or outsource?

The way you described it and @Rich Baer confirmed is often called the "Chain of Title".

Their offering price is often what the house would sell for.Look and verify at your own market to see if the numbers work out.Also, as a software professional, I can tell they store their passwords in clear text.

To use BCPIN, the subscribing client needs a personal computer (PC) with a modem and recent version of Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator Software.

As mentioned, the court wasn't helpful, but we're in the process of consulting an attorney to confirm the Limited Power of Attorney form will do the trick.

I would circle back to the family member/business partners and confirm the interest and approximate availability of funds.