If he is motivated and your numbers add up right with repairs/rent amount etc etc it could be a better deal for both of you, just might take a little longer to get there.

So, we are looking to buy cash.His interests lie in the downstairs, which is essentially a plug and play front for a martial arts school, as it had been one for many years, and the owners are getting older looking to downsize everything.  

Also, Quickbooks does 1099 reporting if you use it and set it up right.

Secondly make sure it's set up right or a lawyer will have no trouble piercing it. 

Or, often, not quite good enough, but she'll (with seller's permission) go patch things up right before the day of the appraisal so that it's juuuust good enough when the appraiser shows up, even if it wasn't good enough when she went into contract.

We are upgrading in September from a SFR to two MFR in Oct, I have three perspective set of deals to attempt to set the 1031 up right. 

The seller's motivation should leave enough room for your fee on the closing with the end-buyer.You DO have an end buyer already lined up, right?

As long as you seal it up right it's not a problem.

As a borrower, how do they stand up. Right

I grew up right outside of Cleveland and can let you know about the areas around there that are expanding rapidly fast that may be a great opportunity to get into.