One never returned my call or answered the phone, I immediately crossed them off my list. 

We still have the house and paid it off a few years ago.

If you are using a lender, I believe they would insist that it is paid off at closing so that you have a clear title.

So my question is: if I wanted to save on the recording costs, keep the deed for my records, proactively pay taxes as they're billed (would coordinate with the company I buy the CFD from), then work with the borrower to get the deed recorded under their name once they've paid off the contract--am I putting myself at risk? 

Turns out, the appraiser said it would pay off.

There could be 30 named storms but if all bank right and head north in the Atlantic avoiding land then beach erosion and canceled reservations along the Atlantic Coast will be the worse of it.

She has the title to the property as it is fully paid off.

The HEI/HEA is not feasible because of the percentages most companies are wanting to take (some are over 50% of the appreciation from the date of the HEA).The biggest question is that we'd be losing our 2.875% rate, which will be paid off in 15 yrs.

South Atlantic bank (out of Myrtle) is good, but I don't know if they're in NC yet

I've been reading BP forums off and on for awhile now.