I would love to call you sometime and tell you how I am involved in Real Estate currently! 

Mark,I think all its all dependent on what and where you want your involvement to be within the equation.

Terms like "durect to seller", tape, or NCND involved?  

You could have an attorney draw up a promissory note that your father signs (keeps things from getting difficult if other family members are involved), and then put the money into the renovations with a commitment that you receive a portion of the upside for helping....everyone wins!

I will no doubt use them, and am currently involved in a couple of them already. 

Often, there is a fee to place tenants (I charge 1/2 of a month's rent) and sometimes there are other fees involved like a maintenance fee, trip charges, etc.  

Looking forward to my next steps in real estate to actively get involved.

Make sure its open to investors and you will have to make sure you are buying at the right price since you will be double closing which involves tow sets of closing cost fees.

Also involved in the real estate industry in South Florida.

With the right tenant selection and manager, you can minimize, mitigate, and transfer most of the risk involved in renting it out.