Outside of the 30yf that's somewhat unlikely to happen, you should be able to cherry pick from several options in terms of PPP (length and severity), fees, fixed period, etc.

Have them sign a lease (rent) and then sell them the right to purchase (own) after a 2 year period (priced at estimated appreciation).

Can a bridge loan extend out past 6 months?

Most DSCR loans are going to come with prepayment penalty periods (PPP).

this newly identified risk mandates increased revenue (rent increases) to compensate for the increased risk of the government allowing tenant to not pay rent and damage unit with no legal means to get rid of the tenant.Just prior to the period in the article, CA passed statewide rent control on MF (starting at 2 unit) properties.  

What would be nice is also to have someone on more often who has been around a longer period of time (ala pre-2008) as most people in real estate only know the good times and what we have ahead of us is not the good times.

If I was interested in purchasing a seller financed home with the total price of say $700,000, could the loan be structured to pay off say $150,000 to the seller over a 4-year period with the remaining due after that period?

I think a two week contingency period would be the most a seller might agree to. 

Period. 

Most probable outlook; this is the new volume basis for protracted period through this consolidating phase.