Seems like such a waste but nobody can agree on a new portfolio manager as the old manager was a family friend for multiple generations and well trusted.

I would strongly advise against using an app that the tenant picked, especially considering they are only willing to make partial payments.I use a trusted property management tool to collect rent and I never allow partial payments.

But even then, seller financing is rarely substantially better than another investment they could make (including trust deed lending, which will often be at a higher rate than seller financing)In my experience, the owners who find owner financing advantageous are at the ends of their careers and are not interested in looking for another investment (other than the usual retirement funding sorts.)

@Corbett Brasington,My recommendation would be to use a trusted attorney.

I do engagement marketing in a trades focused field lending me to having very good relationships with tradespeople whom I consider friends- and I trust thoroughly.

As someone who lends and also borrows private money, I know how important trust and transparency are in these deals.

@Makani Donaldson as a PMC, can tell you that trying to go around a PMC and "Cut out the middle man" to get to the owner will just make your name mud in your area.Who's going to trust you?

Remember trust & verify! 

They said they'd do it through a title company if I didn't trust them, but they really needed the 2% fee to get everything rolling for the loan.

If you're doing a rate and term refinance, there's typically not a seasoning period but again it's common for lenders to require it be rented first.If you're doing a DSCR cash out refi, it may not need to be rented first but you're probably paying a higher rate.Your best option is to call a loan broker you trust and go through the options based on your current situation.