We're fortunately in a position to make this happen, possibly even without having to take on a mortgage.The main goal for my parents in this situation is to minimize stress as they move, and the main goal for my wife and I is to facilitate my parents' goal, plus make a wise financial situation for ourselves. 

I would recommend working with an experienced self-directed facilitator or attorney if in doubt.

If you pair up with a good short sale facilitation company they can handle most of the leg work for you to get the deal closed.

The value added by a WS straw man is long standing, it is what is generally accepted for like transactions, in RE and WS deals, that boils down to a RE commission for facilitating the transaction from a seller to a buyer.

I like Bill Gulley's formulation:  Real Estate Operator.The real reason you are having trouble with what to call it is that you cannot call it what it actually is.There is a name for the process of facilitating transactions for profit, buying and selling options and contractual rights, etc.  

A good example is the use of birddogs, paying for someone to facilitate a deal between others.

Wholesaling is usually done with contract assignment but it can also be facilitated with options agreements where the potential buyer pays the seller a fee to give the buyer the option, but not the obligation, to purchase the target property for X dollars and before a specified date.  

How about a double close, you are actually BUYING the property, not facilitating a sale, regardless of what you do with it after you make the purchase.

I facilitated the loan & got paid an origination fee.

Hi Dion, my role Im direct to seller (facilitator).