Immediately after the purchase you can unlock that equity with whatever debt instrument you choose and use the cash for your own purposes.You purchased as much as you sold.  

In the abstract of title there were no mortgages found.It was my understanding that title can transfer outside a closing table as long as the deed is a written instrument, has a legally competent grantor, the grantee is identifiable and alive, there is a recital of consideration, there is a granting and habendum clause, the deed has a legal description of the property, there is a valid grantor signature, it is notarized ( for recording purposes ), and there is delivery and acceptance.If the deed was legally valid, could the transaction with Mary and Mike take place? 

My basement is FULL of her stuff and the neighbors are complaining about the loud music nearly every night at 2 AM. 

A Heavy Metal Rock band that practices their music at all hours of the night.

While it isn't necessarily a bad way of calculating your actual return, the return on equity is a better instrument, because it takes into account the equity trapped in your investment and compare it with your gains or loss.

The game of musical chairs is coming to an end and there are going to be a lot of sellers left without a seat if they don't take action and adjust with this softening market.

The instrument used is not what creates the tax liability.  

Hearing Instrument Consumer Protection Act 2.

. ;-)People who have achieved massive scale (something that I believe is the hardest part of most businesses) -- Chris Clothier, Brian Burke, Michael Quarles, Wendell de Guzman, Jay HinrichsPeople I would love to be able to pick up the phone any time of day or night to get advice from -- Jon Klaus, Karen Margrave, Will Bernard, Darren Sager, Jon Holdman, Joel Owens, Bryan HancockPeople who have achieved tremendous success in areas I'm not sure I'd even attempt -- Mike McKinzie, Ben Leybovich, Brian Gibbons, Brie Schmidt, Ann Bellamy, Mark Ferguson People I respect and trust enough to continually move money back and forth with in the real world -- Todd Whiddon, Cal Crowden, Ned Carey, Brandon Turner, Christina Ramirez, Ray Browne (and several others who I'm not going to mention because I'm not sure they want to be called out in this capacity)People I don't always agree with, but who provide tremendous knowledge that always forces me to rethink my ideas and positions -- Bill G, Rich WeesePeople who have been instrumental in getting me to where I am today -- That's about 1000 of you guys and gals...I can't name just a few...

Lots of industries work like that, music, entertainment, etc.