We handled the sale off market with a private negotiation with the seller and all the paperwork was processed through the title company.

--essentially using the new mortgage to pay off the partner's short-term loan.Thank you for your responses!

I'm trying to think creatively here and wondering if I can create an LLC and essentially buy my own property for 296k.

@Lynnette E. unfortunately, the gas tax comes nowhere close to paying for highway maintenance.Anyone who is against rent control should also be against Prop. 13, because it is also essentially a form of rent control - the longer you live in a place or own a business, the less tax you pay proportionally to the market value of the property.

They essentially said, they didn't have this house within their inventory of properties and that they typically dabble on the commercial side vs residential.

In some states, this can be tricky, as they do not allow what is called a 'dry closing' -- where you essentially use the end-buyers funds to fund both closings - but in states where that is legal, or frowned-upon, you'll need to find a private/hard-money lender who is willing to offer 'transactional funding' (usually for  fee). 

Does anyone have experience with seller's finance in terms of procedural and paperwork required?

They’ve also been harassing my tenant at the house by doing things like taking off the AC control from the wall while she’s sleeping (and AC is essential in SC!).

They’re mainly looking for the contractor to fill out paperwork and provide insurances and sometimes a background check. 

I essentially paid someone to read me the highlights of Tom’s book.