Try and get them to docusign/authentisign or notarize or produce a POF or know how to do an after inspection request (vs e-mailing the whole 52 pg report)  or complete a disclosure or what have you is a pain. 99% of solo buyers on the street suck and your seller and LA will know that. 

Many homes in the Seattle area are getting 50-60 offers and buyers are getting sweet-talked into paying $300k+ above asking price and waiving all contingencies after spending a 15 minute time window at the house, because all the slots to view the home get booked up and there isn't an opportunity to even do a pre-inspection even if the buyer wanted to. 

Getting a deposit also stops a customer from backing out , once the contract is signed I schedule a slot , order materials , get permits .

Looks like you will be spending 30k - 40k out of pocket anyways, which, combined with some private money, might be enough to do a good old fashioned BRRRR in PG county and generate better returns.

I could have spent months or years researching migration trends, the economy of PG, historic vacancy rates, blah, blah, blah.

. :)I'd add Anza to the list which is close to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and The Slot along with Julian and Borrego Springs which has a golf course and some really nice midcentury homes.I was just in Desert Hot Springs visiting the Desert X installations and have changed my mind about DHS.