We had a 3-5 year plan, but now we are creeping up on 6 ...Thanks again, everyone, I don't mean to be difficult when everyone is giving me so much help, I guess it's just an odd situation and many roads aren't really viable (or something that's not really part of my bigger plan) so I'm just trying to explain more about it, not be combative or anything, I really am appreciative of all of you!

But, if you never buy and enter contracts that you always assign, the fraudulent dealing becomes obvious. :) 

If the title is clouded (liens or encumbrances) or it turns out they didn't have the right to sell it, you have no recourse with the grantor short of fraudulent behavior.

bad business practice from the get go... if you want to list and sell real estate you might want to get in the profession were a listing agreement gives you 2 to 6 months to sell something and assures you get paid.. instead of going into contract with no ability short of finding someone to assign a contract.. its what gives wholesalers such a bad name in the industry. not to mention a seller can back out at anytime since you went into the contract with fraudulant inducement. you may want to rethink this some.. the landscaped is littered with those that try and blow what little cash they have and end up never doing a deal.

Last question would be if there was any way i can protect myself from fraudulent work from contractors, if so what would be the best way

For instance, if the owner pays personal bills from the business checking account or ignores the legal formalities that a corporation or LLC must follow (for example, by making important corporate or LLC decisions without recording them in minutes of a meeting), a court could decide that the owner isn't entitled to the limited liability that the corporate business structure would ordinarily provide.The company's actions were wrongful or fraudulent.

Although I am confident in my work and needs within the company, I continue to try and remind myself that my role is just a number that can be pulled at the slightest moment.How can we as corporate employees combat unexpected layoffs aside from debilitating unemployment lines?

To combat this challenge we believe we have to get in contact with sellers directly.

I've heard stories of money vanishing from bank accounts after the bank realizes a transaction was fraudulent. 

Of course this is not the safest method, but could be used to combat low start up capital.