Quote from @Adam Macias: A 50-year mortgage sounds like affordability — but it’s really it'll be debt that never ends. lolOn paper, stretching a mortgage from 30 years to 50 lowers the monthly payment, yes.But in reality, you’re paying far more in interest while barely building equity for decades.If you buy a house at 25 years old if you're lucky, you'll be 75 when the mortgage term ends...It’s housing that feels like ownership but functions more like renting — just with a longer contract and a higher total cost.The real problem isn’t the length of the loan.It’s the affordability crisis that’s forcing people to consider lifetime debt as a solution.Until we address prices, wages, and supply, extending loan terms only delays the inevitable...The further elimination of the middle class chasing the American Dream of owning a home. 

It sounds like either you buy a straight rental or a 2-4 unit house hack.The biggest advantage to house hacking a 2-4 unit is (1) you can put less money down with a better interest rate and (2) you can use the income from the other units to qualify.I don't know where you are based out of so not sure how far your $85K pre-tax income goes.

Keep your conversations simple.You don’t need to sound like a guru.

Quote from @Casey Hall: @Collin Hays Thanks for the advice — I totally get what you’re saying.The only tricky part for me is there really isn’t a solid STR market close to where I live.

Do option #1 unless the appraisal gap is enormous.If the additional $50K would push the ARV significantly higher and you can prove it with comps, then it might be worth upfront investment.But since you already said doing option #2 makes you leave more cash in the deal even with higher rents, it sounds like option #1 is the smarter BRRRR-aligned path.My vote:Do option #1.

One more piece of advice.  

I was never on the title, loan or part of the sale as we weren’t married then.Since they’ve added us both as third party defendants, we’re just looking for any advice or possible solutions/ideas.

If anyone has any advice for me I would appreciate it greatly, you do not need to sugar coat it.

Quote from @Mary Jay: I would get a second opinion, sounds like they are just looking to sell you on some stuff, or it might actually be true and the old company owner/techs did not bring any of this up to you.

Congrats on the progress with your properties,  it sounds like you’re on a great path!