The final sales price is $100,000, but the seller brings me a check for $20,000 at closing (independent of the actual sales agreement). 

I think LTCG is a fixed percentage based on the gain and is independent of other income.

Nobody will ever again be able to build an estate big enough to produce an independent income". 

i cant even begin to respond to that.You have the property pending, good for you, if the guy is a great credit risk and has at least 20% down i bet it will appraise. how about this we have an independent appraiser chosen at random appraise it, if the appraisal comes in lower than 30k you apologize publicly for your misleading website and pay for the appraisal, if it comes in over 30k I will apologize publicly and pay for it.  

If I had started when I should have started, I would be financially independent today.  

Does a schedule E have to be completed with my taxes or is the something I can complete independently?

Etc...I understand that things like title and BPO need to be verified independently.  

After independence, the country was underpopulated and homesteading was prevalent - or else land was just taken from the indians etc. there are many advantages to having skin in the game.

So it has given me motivation to really sell my skills independently. 

As well, many independent lumber yards, hardware stores, etc. that cut glass can help too.