I would get licensed, work for a local investor, and learn all you can in the trenches.

The issue is that you can only afford to do what you can in these situations and sometimes that might mean nothing, as you also have the bank to deal with if you don't pay the mortgage.Do what you can to help!

There is NO benefit for you to take that money up front, but they know that flashing a fat stack of cash will throw some people into excitement.

they're out like the fat kid in 5th grade dodge ball!

Podcasts I have on cycle:BiggerPockets (Real Estate)Best Real Estate Investment Advice Ever w/Joe Fairless (Real Estate)BiggerPockets Money (Personal Finance)ChooseFI (Personal Finance)Mad Fientist (Personal Finance)The Side Hustle Show (Entrepreneurship)Fat-Burning Man (Health) Impact Theory by Tom Bilyeu (Personal Development)

Many lenders are doing periodic occupancy checks and because the property is investment / Rental, if caught committing "Occupancy Fraud" the lender can call the note due, foreclose and the owner is out like the fat kid in 5th grade dodge ball!

You need to make sure you offer with a good amount of lease option money to the seller and be fair with your expectations or the minute they run a ridiculous scenario/ offer by their attorney or realtor, you're out like the fat kid in 5th grade dodge ball! 

No wonder the USA is fat and sick.

I'm not sure if earnest money can split in your area, but it can in St.

I guaranty if you were to battle anther realtor with a borrower/ buyer who was to do as I described above, 7 out of 10 times you would lose down here in FL  with that outdated strategy of "Poor Mouthing the Offer" with ridiculous Good Faith Deposit amount in escrow.If I were selling a 500k home, and an a buyer hit me with a 5k deposit, their offer would be out like the fat kid in 5th grade dodge ball!