Contracts must have consideration to be a valid contract, basic contract law, consideration can be almost anything, including a promise to perform (which you don't have in an option) but that consideration must be measurable financially, in dollars, which may also become the basis for any loss in the event a contract is not fulfilled.

You may have multiple buyers fall through which doesn't matter to the hard money lender as long as you fulfill your contract with them.  

The responsibilities and splits with all contingencies so there are no known problems like vendor liens, failure of either party to fulfill responsibilities and they lived happy ever after.

If you're referring to having someone go personally serve a tenant at their workplace, then that should be fine because it fulfills the personal service requirement.

I am learning more about low and no money down strategies, but for the time being I think I may do one of two things, unless of course I can find a better path.1) Purchase a small unit in the $125-150k range with a 5 year amortization, leveraging the equity through a LOC to purchase a number of other properties, most likely similar small units.or 2) Purchase a unit in the same price range with a 25 or 30 year amortization, saving extra money and fulfilling the owner occupancy requirement and turning it into a cashflowing rental, while finding a new unit to repeat the process with ad nauseam.Regardless of what path I choose, I am here to learn for long term growth and share what I can on subjects in which I am knowledgeable Thanks for reading and let me know what you think

One thing you could do is have the spouse live away from you, back in NoVa, for a year or so, to check the box and fulfill your promise at the closing table to live there for a year. 

@Joe Vastola I know this goes against the wholesaler's creed of "hooray for me and sellers fend for themselves", but if you're entering into contracts that you cannot fulfill, you can buy yourself a boatload of trouble - not to mention the duress you put the seller under.Think lawsuits for: specific performance, fraud in the inducement and maybe even consequential damages from the seller who made other plans that depended on you to fulfill the contract terms.Don't forget that if you start marketing properties that you don't own, there's always the possibility of facing charges of brokering real estate without a license. 

They are not fulfilling their fiduciary responsibility towards you. 

Thank you for the advice, I would stay in one of the un rented units for a year when I'm there for work to fulfill my obligations with the bank not intending to mislead them of my intentions. 

Mark, as others have stated, you own the property and can hire whomever you want to fulfill your obligations as outlined in the agreement.