If so, there was no guarantee the title co. could get the Lender to execute the partial release, the seller would have had to arrange/negotiate that.

I am strictly buy and hold; anything I buy today has to be really appealing-not going to gamble on any dogs or overpriced queens at this stage of the market-and certainly not counting on any appreciation for the next while.

My question is how do I calculate interest in this arrangement.

I'm guessing your at the early stages of your investment career. 

You may want to look for markets earlier in their turn around stages, and many other have already left the station and become seller's markets.  

I just arranged my bank to set up a direct deposit system with one of my tenants.

I feel like at this stage, I'm analyzing deals and more or less guessing on ARV but that's a HUGELY important figure to get right, so my deal analysis is rather moot if I'm just guessing ARV...Does anyone have any processes to share that make calculating ARV a bit more streamlined?

If this were an arrangement between you and the potential tenant, I would say since he doesn't have a copy of the agreement with your signature, then it's not considered executed.

My new landlord does not offer this incentive, but the lease automatically converts to a month-to-month arrangement at a much higher monthly rent when the lease is up ("negative incentive") if I don't renew the lease.

Realizing each investor is in a different stage in life and may have significantly different goals at that stage, I’d like to hear some thoughts on how much equity you like to keep in your property.Economics are strong where I am in Palm Beach County, Florida.