He was very eager to move forward and then just stopped responding to attempts to communicate. 

When I went over to talk to them again I told them I would have the cars moved if they stopped parking in front of my house.

I'm not suggesting it should be in the mutual funds, just trying to understand the thought process that went on when you were investing, stopped with $50K left and said "that money that's left is extra".

Why stop there ... beheadings are making a comeback.

If I am the owner and enter into a contract for deed on a residential property then what is to stop  the buyer from having work done on a property and then fail to pay the workers ?

I know that the money has to stay in the bank for a couple of months if you don't want to explain where the money came from (cash business).So I can have access to cheap money I just don't know how to set up the transaction in such a way that it doesn't appear as borrowed.

If thats what you expect then stop now and save your money.

This stopped the auction from going forward.

Conventional lenders won't allow a borrowed down payment, so what you are proposing may be tough.

The tenant stops paying, they stop getting it.