If they signed a lease then it's not a handshake agreement. 

Its important to understand how credit and debt affect all assets, but its more important to realize the signs to be able to be ready for the storms that blow through.

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Mom and pops many tend to deal with the owners directly and can make a decision quicker with putting in an LOI and executing the lease phase.Regional to national tenants that are scaling tend to have SELECT TENANT brokers they work through.

Has anyone had any luck with a bank signing a release so that a piece of the land can be sold?

Fix and flips, buy and holds, etc...this will determine your list selection.  

Just make sure you know what you are signing up for and have it IN WRITING so everyone is on the same page.

The Tenant must voluntarily sign a Move Out Form provided by the Housing Authority.

I have also signed up to receive email alerts on houses that become available in the market.

The big thing is tying up your house to an unknown when you want to sell.Imagine if you signed a lease option in 2007 for 3yrs.