There are other ways to get your offer accepted that can be appealing to the buyers like non-refundable deposits, higher deposit amounts, shorter timelines and others.

The buyer as new owner will be a matter of public record.  

They may be non permitable.check with the local city or county before you get into it where you can't get out.

I'm a mortgage broker and can offer just about any product QM and non QM with competitive pricing. let's close some deals!

I spoke to them about 1.5 months ago and since then they have been non-responsive that makes them look like not the real deal and I'm wondering if they are still around and active and good?

I’ve heard from many (non-experts) that I’d need to stay for at least 5-7 years to avoid taking a significant financial hit, but that feels like a waking nightmare given how much this issue affects me.Financially, renting it out isn’t an easy solution either.

The IRS generally does not allow switching back and forth between aggregated and non-aggregated status year to year.

You are bold for taking on a non-paying tenant. 

Lot's of regular (non-investor) home buyers/sellers do need a Realtor.

Which directly ties into the liability of non-permitted and uninsurable properties built in trees by unlicensed builders.