Of course it’s always best to check with your local Assessor’s Office, we are actually pretty friendly people contrary to popular belief:)

In most states you do not have clear title unless a Quiet Title action is done, a certain number of years since the sale has passed, the past owner may have redemption rights, etc..Also check for zoning and use restrictions.....many vacant parcels go to tax sale because they can’t be built on and are useless..This is not something you want to buy if you don’t know exactly what risks you are assuming.  

Big contractor checks might be harder to explain if it came to that.

Contact the police or an adult protective services agency in her area to do a welfare check on her. 

Check Craigslist or Renter's Warehouse if you are looking at buying rentals.

As a noob, would be curious to know what is everyone's process to get to receiving that monthly rental check?

Check the ordinances for your city and county.

Check with your DRE.

I've been a lurker for awhile now so it's only right for me to start contributing!I'm a Realtor currently licensed in Maryland and soon to be D.C.I am also an aspiring real estate investor (wish me luck, will be seein...

There could be something peculiar about your contract that makes it non-assignable (in short, check with an attorney to be certain) but, in general, UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE WITHIN THE CONTRACT, all buy-sell real estate agreements are personal property and inherently assignable.