If it were me, I buy with seller financings in order to work out the title and terms details.In the meantime, you can seek to control the opportunity with an asignment and a way to cloud title that thwarts would-be competitors from snaking your deal.

@Kyle Durso  Trust your instincts.This snake somehow was able to post on Trulia, which is indeed surprising.Found these complaints from other scam victims:https://angrycitizen.com/rent-scams/.Curious what Trulia/Zillow will say?

Watch out for snake oil salesman.

One other tip, any Home Depot with a tool rental will have the industrial sized snake designed for clearing sewer lines ... rented for $70 when a pro coming out would charge $300+.

Be careful with your money and beware the "Snake~Oil Salesman"!

You could get snake eyes or you can get a 12! 

I want uniformity and want to avoid other tenants catching on that there would be a way around the pet fee (buy a lizard, or snake instead of a cat/dog).

With a single piece of property, given time and proper management, you can build value like an avalanche thundering down a mountain.

My dad had to evict a family once that had cats, dogs, snakes, birds, ferrets, and live rodents stashed in every corner of the house. 

I eat lightning and crap thunder.