Each "exit" from one Milestone must be executed with the "Entrance" of the next one in mind...and so on, to the end.  

When you are buying as an investor, only FNMA has a deed restriction on the buy side that prevents you selling for more than 120% of the purchase price for 90 daysWhen you go to sell,  if your buyer is looking to obtain an FHA loan, the contract may not be executed for 90 days from the date the deed is recorded. 

Find a good system that you want to follow and  execute it.  

But remember this person just went through a natural disaster is in a very vulnerable state, please be ethical.

The use of an experienced qualified intermediary can significantly reduce the complexity of an exchange by assuring the proper execution of required documentation. 

I believe there was a BiggerPockets podcast where an investor who uses lease options often stated that only 5% of the time does the tenant actually execute the option.

Are debit cards more vulnerable to skimming than credit cards?

Any actually in the case of the lead based paint disclosure, it is the Seller who is required to execute that, and would also be liable.Of course, education and paying attention to what you are doing are your best prevention.

Then, I had a phone call with the executive director of this program and he said that he was going to have John Doe call me (that hasn't happened after waiting 2 weeks).

Brokers and sellers like certainty of execution.