I agree it's dishonest for anyone that's selling coaching/courses to claim they're an active investor if they haven't done any deals in the last 12 months. 

That said, the only money I have ever lost in real estate was in a partnership run by a dishonest general partner. 

Even if I knew a loophole that would allow you to keep his money, I wouldn't share it with you because I think it's dishonest.

I've read a lot about the need to use caution with Wholesalers as some can be dishonest and take advantage of newer investors like myself.I wanted to reach out to the community here on BP to see if anyone has had experience with good wholesalers in the area that they trust and have a good relationship with...?

However I meet a lot of people that didn't do their due diligence on the front end such as knowing how to structure contracts or having attorneys look over contracts with contractors or having dishonest contractors and paid them upfront (SMH) and have loosed tens of thousands of dollars and are back to square one.  

If you asked the tenant where rent was and they said, "I mailed it", would it be dishonest if they had intentionally mailed it without a stamp and didn't disclose that?

Perhaps I am just too new to this, but:Isn't this all dishonest and (possibly) fraudulent?

Of course, we'd prefer a single family, or multi, but I'm not interested in the challenges of that type of long-distance ownership.Barbados ownership is complex mainly due to dishonest lawyers / real estate agents, (rumored also legal system) and an inefficient system of deed recording.

It sucks but this is what I would do.If you have no money invested in it, I would tell the seller,  that I totally understand, and although the contract is signed, I would tear it up and best of luck.And go find a new deal.They are people too, honest, dishonest, doesn't matter.

The biggest problem I see is the fact they might have been dishonest with you or desperate for a place like yours.