*fingers crossed*They claim that they cover tenant-occupied, vacant, or under rehab.

You don't have to pay to be here.The bottom line is that the population has voted, with their fingers, and BP far and away is the best and most populated real estate forums on the internet.

To make matters more complicated, I am currently working and living in the Bay Area of California - which makes it hard to jump on deals and keep a finger on the "pulse" of the market in Grand Rapids. 

My inclination is to give him the middle finger and continue being a thorn in his side (his ethics, transparency, competence, and communications skills leave a lot to be desired), but my wife is encouraging me to just suck it up, take the money, and move on.    

Let's see, fingers crossed!

You will meet tons of great people here not to mentioned all the available content you have at your finger tips!

His office is in Elmira but he represents the southern tier of NY and Finger Lakes.

That alone will reduce both overhead and finger pointing.After you get into more projects, you'll develop relationships with different contractors, and you'll see each ones' strengths and weaknesses.

Would you just throw a contract at him and fingers crossed he signs and we close the deal?

again, i don't know you personally or the inner workings of your business, so i am not pointing any fingers.