Any best practices for buying individual DOT's from banks?

It is not law, but just common practice. 

I've had brokers tell me this before (not my brokers), and while I'm not an attorney, I firmly believe there is nothing illegal about this practice and I'm perfectly happy to stand in front of a judge and argue it if it ever came to it.Here are my thoughts:-  It's not a RESPA violation.  

From a practical point of view, how did you manage to finish the "upright" edges & ends?

Maybe that would be a good practice for folks no matter where they are buying! 

I'm practically new in real state investment.

I have been listening to the podcasts and browsing the site for a month or so and am impressed with level of knowledge and the culture of the community here on BP.Being from north of the border I do get jealous when I hear some of the prices available in some markets of the U.S. but I do keep reminding myself to be happy with the raging economy and 1% vacancies of my home town in Edmonton.

Any advice at all or suggestions on where we can begin learning investor friendly practices would be greatly appreciated. 

They are willing to practice law without a license?

Since your seller is renting the home they will have the same issues, so you're compounding your potential of legal violations causing the entire arrangement to be tainted.I'd suggest too that you dig deeper in title and the name(s) of your seller as to doing the old finance with a small down, collect payments, foreclose rinse and repeat, illegal practice now, thank God!