You don't have to sign the agreement, though some state laws require an exclusive contract.

Transferring a property title later could be deemed a taxable gift if it exceeds the annual exclusion ($17,000 for 2024).

These marketers would have the novice investor believe that the narrow focused “education” they provide combined with the “holy grail” formula (wholesaling, subject to, flipping, lease option, discounted note purchase, etc.) is most, if not all, anyone needs to become “independent” and successful, usually by month 12.

If they are good, they don't have a problem finding work so doing your project at a deep discount makes no sense for them. 

@Chris Seveney I only get payoffs on loans I did not buy at a discount. 

Does renting the home while deployed void the eligibility for exclusion of gain, even when the home was lived in/primary residence for 2 of the last 7?  

Then in the next rent cycle 1 tenant moved out and the new replacement paid the old rent sans the $50 discount, and in the second year the other tenant's rent was raised $50, so we were back to the original rent. 

Even then, the IRS may scrutinize the transaction if it appears the intent was to immediately convert the property into a personal residence.Additionally, if you eventually sell the property after converting it to a primary residence, you may qualify for partial benefits under the Section 121 exclusion for primary residence gains.

I used a property manager (before I was one) for (1) time & headache savings and (2) the value the property managers provide by economies of scale (marketing, discounts with vendors, etc.).

Sorry, I can see offering a discount for a limited time only, after which the price goes up to whatever the full cost is, but NO reputable seller/instructor is going to literally only give you a total of 10 minutes to make your decision.Sixth, depending on the market you are in, and the specific deals you find, $10,000 could be a ridiculously small finder's fee.