Writing this post mostly for newer investors looking to get into Real EstateIt's tempting as a newcomer to fall into things like "off-market" "exclusive" etc. 

While not exclusively focused on real estate, their "specialty" is real estate.

Did they ask for a retainer in exchange for an exclusive listing agreement when/if a house a house that was in pre foreclosure actually went through foreclosure?

In 2018 and 2019 the gift exclusion, not subject to gift tax, is $15,000".

6) I start sending our exclusive deals in advance of receiving the deposit due to how good we both felt on the call (My mistake).7) Investor "openly and honestly" questions our business model and wants to know how we make money.

Your son, being deployed, might use the 2-out-of-15-year rule for the capital gains exclusion when selling the house.

Waiving the inspection contingency and not performing an inspection aren't mutually exclusive.

The sec121 exclusion of $500k for married is very powerful tax benefit. 

You will have to get your ejectment order to be completely safe, or pay off one of the heirs to let you take possession peaceably, and then wait out three years of exclusive and continuous possession (which means someone actually on the property using it, usually a tenant) before you have adversely possessed it and "cured" the void tax sale.

@Agustin Rossi  The Home Must Be Your Principal ResidenceTo qualify for the exclusion, you must have used the home you sell as your principal residence for at least two of the five years prior to the sale.