Did you require a personal guarantee or have some sort of due on sale clause similar to what a commercial promissory note would have?

Seller will call when title is clear and won't if it doesn't clear the ones that end up not clearing end up tax sales....now those have some spreads in them (and all the investors said amen)......idk just my personal opinion on it......we put in 40-50 (of those 2-5 get accepted) offers a week.....if can't clear title I need my earnest back for another deal....I always let them know to call me if they get it sorted out.....

Pretty sure you can withdraw any sort of offer/counteroffer at any time since at that point there has been no agreement made and signed by all parties.

Out of state investing is fine but for me, now that the investment levels are no longer a sort of hobby, I'm sticking with areas close to where I live. 

Here you can find all sorts of resources that people share freely.

Do you at least have a job that gives you some sort of income?

I figured that was why he was looking to move, but also a great indicator on what sorts of decisions he makes. 

I have my own crew which makes rehabbing properties a breeze...sort of.

Set it up in the lease and tell them in advance, they will learn to sort it out themselves. 

So you are doing a hybrid of sorts until you can scale larger etc.