So if someone could find it in them to help a youngster find the right way through this maze it would be greatly appreciated.

You're no Spring chick, you have a mature business sense that youngsters may not have.

also don’t let your youngsters eat parts of my house .

I would think on a forum like BP more of us would be encouraging the youngster to brush up on fundamentals, rather than 2006-style risk taking.EDIT: If you read my first post carefully, you will realize that im not 'naysaying' im actually encouraging OP to educate himself

a youngster with his head screwed on ! 

@Jennifer Tan @Brett Youngster there is a site you can go to that will take you to public records anywhere in the country.http://publicrecords.netronline.comClick on the desired state on the map, then click on the county.Then click on go to data online for the desired site.The property appraiser/assessor site will give you ownership info, sales info and property info.The clerk of courts/register of deeds will tell you about mortgages, liens, foreclosures, etc.Tax collector should give you the info on if the taxes are current.Hope this helps.

I have seen some youngster who drank the coach or guru coolaid get in some serious trouble.. one of these groups.. young kids all under 30 did about 25 of these in PDX> by the time they got to me half were in default .. sellers were total POed and starting filing complaints with every agency known to man.. finally AG picked it up..

It took me about a month to get through the course, working full time (but no youngsters at home!).

Parents supplying downpayments for said youngsters in #1 (boomers have a ton of equity in their homes due to the run up in prices overall).3.

There are youngsters that find a niche and think they have a product to sell.