The process seems very unusual compared to what I've heard about in the PNW, and I've been fortunate enough that my family hasn't had to deal with it here due to disciplined estate planning.  

I have found that 6-8 weeks are not unusual turnaround time.

Nobody told me at the time how unusual that was, or gave me Jerry's advice of "it won't always be that easy."

Or, at the post office take a look at their first class stamps and there's always something unusual in there that you've never seen.

Michael, you sound like me talking, don't get on the wagon until you have the horses hitched up.Now, if there is some unusual situation where a property is to be acquired and sold within 90 days, knowing there is no problem with a sale you might use a Sub-2 arrangement to facilitate the deal.The seller needs to understand these deals, giving the seller some disclosure saying they are going to be responsible for the loan and they will die, isn't really having them understand all the risks involved.As Michael said, don't get involved unless you can take out the underlying debt

Hand address your letters, add a distinctive mark in the return address, use a different color pen or use an unusual font if printing labels.

Quite an unusual situation I must admit!

I never personally took it to the level that someone like Michael Quarles has, but I don't think no calls on 300 letters is unusual at all.

All real estate markets may be local (not unlike politics) but at present there are so many unusual factors that would appear to create one big U.S. market, such as the institutional buyers making cash offers.

This is highly unusual and I consulted my attorney and I was able to get an old survey and long story short, I decided it is still worthy of pursuing even if I have to modify the fence and yield the strip of land back to the city.