If they insist that he won't be living there I wouldn't rent to them.

Let’s say the owner wants $200,000 for the property, but it’s worth only 180k, however he insists on $200k with no takers.  

I called him up to verify he still hasn’t signed with the realtor yet but insisted I talk to the realtor.

Then I got texts from the salesman insisting that I confirm our call.

(I will insist on a contract, but I don't want him to think I don't trust him.)

Ask but don't insist. 

We really stretched ourselves thin. we did not perform our own inspections because we were busy raising finances .. and our agent insisted we use the same company who did the initial inspections to “get a report in our name” .. we went for visual inspection with our agent and found the master bathtub was  upside down — they said there was a chip and seller was fixing the tub.

Even the better ones among them are no experts in tax law and often come up with (and insist on) totally random positions contradicting the law.

@Matthew PerezI know some people insist on connecting directly with hospitals/travel-nurse placement groups or with insurance companies.

I tried the same with Fidelity several years ago, however they insisted that I keep 7 figures in brokerage (outside of private equity), so we didn't stick around long... in fact Im all but liquidated there myself.