This deposit goes towards the assignment fee that you get at closing.Here is how we state this in our "Assignment Contract""NOW THEREFORE for and in consideration of the sum of FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS, $5,000, and other good and valuable considerations the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, Assignor has assigned, transferred, sold and conveyed and by these presents does hereby assign, transfer, sell and convey unto Assignee all of Assignor's right, title and interest in, to and under said Real Estate Purchase and Sale Agreement.Assignor agrees to receive and Assignee agrees to pay $1,000 of said assignment consideration as a NON REFUNDABLE deposit with the remainder to be paid on the closing date of said Real Estate Purchase and Sale Agreement."

NO ESCROW: I understand Buyer may choose to “close” this transaction without the use of an escrow company and may record the conveyance documents himself.

This is a bad way to start a lease so what you want to convey is that you are firm but reasonable or they will walk all over you for the duration of the lease. 

Or in our case, we are permanent hold multi-generation growth and conveyance, so really it will be the next generations issue.We all do what fits in our local market, some do it better than others no doubt.

@Brad Crawford,You have the seller convey title to you.

The lien will have to be satisfied in one way or the other in order for clear and marketable title to be convey in the property's sale.

Any suggestions on how to help convey the benefits of the duplex idea?

Conveyance of a Borrower's interst in the Property to a trust which meets the requirements of the Secretary, or conveyance of a trust's interest in the Property to a Borrower, shall not be considered a conveyance for purposes of this Paragraph.

Maybe that's what you mean to convey, but then the reader may wonder if you really can pay.Can you really pay?

Once you have internalized the truth then think about all of the people that will be hurt if you continue on.There is one last thing I want to convey before addressing the specific points.