Of course looking back I see lots of red flags along the way but I wanted to trust them and they were recommended to me by someone I trusted who now is no longer doing business with them.

Hard to know who to trust, I think you'd need to get feedback or a recommendation from someone who's actually been in the particular one you're looking at (like make a post here on it and see if anyone has done it). 

Once you trust him then you'll only have to do periodic checks to ensure quality. 

The key is to find a solid team here or a couple of trust worthy people with a team for you to use and you are set. 

If he had blindly trusted us, he could have bought a house with true structural issues based on everyone here saying "sounds like no big deal."

The IRS clearly has some trust issues with attorneys.Commissions and fees paid at closing to licensed realtors and mortgage brokersPayments for purchasing all kinds of goods, materials, and property, including real estate itselfRepayments of loansI do not have my contractors' SSNs - what do I do?

Double check your contract.If you want to avoid that situation, you may want to transfer your title to a Land Trust (use a special Warranty Deed) where you are still the initial beneficiary.

The ca attorney says irrevocable trust is the way to go.

It could be a remote deal for you if you find someone you trust through BP.

LLC, Illinois Land Trust, etc. is necessary starting out?