A pure lease and a pure option that is not intertwined or dependent on each other is not involved with Dodd Frank or the Safe Act.Once you make performance of the lease subject to the lease or or use rent credits as a financing arrangement, now you have issues Dodd Frank or the Safe Act.Bill Gulley may want to comment.An option alternative is a ROFR, see http://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/3/blog_posts/38...

Your insurance agent can arrange that and you'll need to take that binder and paid receipt for coverage to settlement, unless other insurance provisions have been agreed to.

Our in-house attorney is the one who brought the issues up of unlawful utility arrangements, that was my first encounter with the matter.

Sell the feature of having a sandlot volleyball court.Tell them it's ready to be tilled for their vegetable garden.Tell them pets are okay outside.Tell them the neighbor stole your sod, a simple furniture arrangement and they can look next door. 

What % equity is fair given the above arrangement?

Ours states:ALTERATIONS.Tenant agrees not to alter the premises without prior written consent of Landlord.All changes made by Tenant must be reversible and property must be restored to original condition at end of tenancy, unless other arrangements have been made with Landlord.

Of course I arranged the walkthrough, worked up my rehab estimate, made an offer and got it under contract for $27,500.

I think one of the biggest benefits to them in this arrangement was to have a guiding hand throughout the whole process (aside from the great buy & hold deals we picked up :) ).

We do charge a 7% upcharge for arranging and overseeing all the repairs needed and paying the vendors.

I typically do not allot much for maintenance the first year or two on a condo or townhouse arrangement since I replace most everything when I buy it and exterior maintenance is taken care of by the HOA.