Meanwhile, I’ve been blessed to receive a grant in aid settlement from my college football alumni and I want to immediately put it away until I’m ready to purchase my duplex.

Go back to them when you get to them on the list in a couple years and make them a settlement offer of 25%. 

From a tax perspective, for divorce settlements finalized after December 31, 2018, alimony is no longer deductible (as an adjustment) to the payer nor taxable to the payee.

@Aaron VitielloFirst off they would be bonkers to 'gift' you the house, as you could then sell it without having to give them anything.Your best option is to go to a hard money lender and offer the executor 80K for a quick 10 day settlement.

I guess everyone wants a piece of the pie.Side note: One exception to this law would be during the divorce settlement. 

No way they can be completed before closing/settlement so should I just ask for the cash for repairs at the time of settlement? 

But If it's legal to put that on the settlement statement then it would be no problem to craft an exchange that would work for you.But if you can't get your fee on the settlement statement because you're not a licensed realtor then you'll have to figure out a way to get paid outside of closing because allowable expenses in a 1031 exchange have to be on the settlement statement or they become taxable to the seller.

All my tenants are MTM I do not offer longer terms; but they all have leases just the same.Make sure you get the correct settlement at closing-security deposits and last months rent.

We were able to pull up a detailed report that stated the problem is differential settlement of the foundation, with the recommendation to "underpin thewest foundation wall with an underpinning system such as helical piers."

@Marc Winter, yes, you can always pay the agent whatever/however...and as you said as long at the contract and settlement document specify how that works it's really up to whatever parties mutual agree on.I've heard people insist the Seller pays the commission...well, yeah, technically they do, but ultimately it's the Buyer's money that makes it possible for the Seller to pay and the Seller knows if they have to pay the Agent $X, then their bottom dollar becomes whatever they want in their pocket after all is said and done + $X.