If your current agent is not able to fulfill your needs, you should have no trouble finding another local agent that would work very hard for you. 

I fulfill the agreement regardless.

The refinery said they would pay any mitigation necessary and over the last 20 years has fulfilled that promise.What are the pros and cons of purchasing a rental property near said refinery, especially knowing that some residents 20 years ago had complained about oily smells in their basements (although you have no first-hand knowledge of the smells).Is that enough to hold you back from purchasing a property or is it just par for the course with buying near industrial areas?

He did not make an effort to fulfill his obligation. 

In my opinion it should be legal and binding in it's wording, have an expiration date or a date on which I am to fulfill my obligation to purchase the property.

And since the seller pays my commission, people get an amazing deal and I find myself very fulfilled with helping people find their own slice of financial freedom. 

I am counting on that contract/lease to pay my bills, and if you agreed to it for a set amount of time, I am expecting that to be fulfilled. 

Further, depending on your state, laws may make it illegal to discriminate based on sexual orientation, source of income, citizenship, criminal history, and so on.

With it being April, I figured we may be able to draw out closing to June and then fulfill the "reasonable timeframe" occupancy requirement by September 2015 (one year from the time we bought our current property).Has anyone had a similar experience or have insight in how this deal may go if I apply for a loan?

Legal interest is delivered upon successful contract terms fulfillment.