This should have already been a common practice, but because of the commission structure before the NAR settlement, lots of agents did not execute contracts with buyers in order to gain them as clients. 

This strategy allows investors to defer capital gains taxes when they sell an investment property, provided they reinvest the proceeds into a like-kind property.

Every person on this forum is going to have a different idea on what makes a "good deal"Personally, for rentals, I look to gain as much equity right off the bat as possible and have little to no money in the deal.

I'm 1000% transparent in all things, so having the conversation early with buyers is better and it also helps me gain advantage on my 'competition.'

I would recommend finding the top lenders in the area where you're buying and gaining a good understanding of their terms.

How will the installment sales impact capital gains? 

And completely agree a dollar saved on expenses is worth the same as a dollar gained in revenue, but the expense side is often overlooked.

Are your real estate investments active or passive?

The real goal is capital gain, and future cash out refinance. 

Selling, even at break-even, is an $1800/mo swing in truly passive, risk-free cash-flow.