IMO everyone is dead on but drilling a little deeper...Your Sub-2 the buyer takes title as mentioned above and takes an equitable interest in the same manner as if fully purchased, but subject to performance of the contract with the seller.This is often confused with an assumption, but the phrase "loan assumption" has a legal side and is something that only the note holder may grant.

I like the way you phrased that—skies really brighten.Any area in particular that has your attention?

The proprietary software is nothing more than a fancy phrase.

How should this couple phrase their situation to the mortgage lenders?

Learn your script and presentation and don't let your experience or social and financial makeup influence your opinion on whether a caller is motivated or not...Listen, use embedded commands, mimic, pace, understand the power of positive and negative phrases and certainly read up on Neurolinguistics.

Also, you can re-read my post, as I mentioned the exact phrase that you said to me, ordinary and necessary.Again, this is to broaden Marie's horizons.

We should never explain the terms however saying the phrase is extremely helpful when negotiating at a later time.

They are bullying investors over a common phrase that has been used for decades.  

'We Buy Houses' has been trademarked for a long time, and more recently they sold to a company that now claims to be enforcing the phrase under their trademark rights.It seems like a very generic phrase, so I am wondering if their trademark will actually hold up?

@Tom Scott  I love this phrase...