Either one of these people - the buyer, or the seller, can screw you, intentionally or unintentionally in years to come. 

Every buyer wants some way to determine if they are being offered a fair deal.

You can find cash buyers, right?

Now with the NAR settlement, all buyer commissions are negotiable in the contract. 

I have a deal right now and I need buyers.

(if the buyer wants a more solid commitment)Once a buyer has spent money they are somewhat vested in buying the property and that gives additional negotiating power to the seller.

We need a buyer's representation agreement signed before we can show. 

They did a great job of convincing unsuspecting buyers.

My question is: when wholesaling, after finding a great deal, do you need real proof of funds to the get the property under contact or is there a way to get it under contract, find a buyer and complete a double closing/assign the right to sell without actually having the cash for the property? 

Cash buyers & investors are also skiddish due to the increase in crime as well as DC’s crackdown on AirBNB’s and tenant/friendly TOPA policies.