You can request a portion of their tax return to verify the rent roll for the duplex, but that seems highly unnecessary.

He offered to let me take this over but he still needs the other $50k equity and didn't seem to be open to the idea of seller financing this portion. 

He desperately wants to sell, but needs a good portion of his equity to pay off debts.  

I will openly state that I plan on retiring early (<45 years old) by using a portion of my retirement accounts (via ladder conversions) to pay off one of my rentals. 

My management business leases a substantial portion of the property at a market rent.  

Invest in low cost index funds (like Vanguard total stock market but it depends on what your employer offers)5) Max out your *Roth* IRA for the year ($5.5k) invested the same as above (not point in investing in a traditional IRA given our tax level -- plus you can withdraw Roth IRA contributions in an emergency without a penalty - but you shouldn't as that's what the emergency fund is for)6) Split the rest and invest a portion in the stock market (Vanguard low cost index funds!) 

I'd thank him for the offer and for letting you know he lost his job and can't pay rent, then I'd offer him an early release of his lease, without penalty and usually a large portion of the security deposit back if the unit is clean and empty on the date agreed upon.  

I could see this being an issue if the buyer hasn't obtained homeowner insurance by time of closing if it is required, so I just wanted to get clarification from the community as to what my responsibilities are.Curious to see how everyone else handles this portion when selling via a Wrap.Thanks!

Severability: Should any portion of this Agreement be declared invalid or unenforceable, then such portion shall be deemed to be severable from this Agreement and shall not affect the remainder hereof.9.

Further, subletting while the house is under construction may present another barrier since portions of the house would be void of use and bar some level of occupancy.