Conversely, we have encountered situations over the past couple of years where some of the Big-5 banks do not make their best offerings available via mortgage brokers, but only through their in-house specialists ... a good broker will be upfront about what s/he can and cannot access and may actually direct you to an in-bank resource if it makes more sense for the deal.

OMG,, Really,, I'd suggest first you download your states landlord tenant laws.You want your tenants that are LIVING in SAME HOUSE as you not to know who you are.. are you seriousTake Pride in ownership, Run a business, not a scam, why would a tenant be truthful to you in the future if you can't be with them..

But, I am a little worried about getting scammed and being a foreigner buyer.

It has something to do with the fact that anybody can come in here and try to get ahold of you and tell you they lend to you and then scam you.

Also, it seems like there's a lot of companies out there that claim to be hard money lender that could be scamming you.

Conversely, if it's scam, then maybe people can alert others. 

Looks like a Scam!

Has anyone encountered something like this? 

@Scott FrenchIf you were selling an active business with a strong local brand - say a local market with deep roots in the community or a renown B&B - there would be a strong goodwill component (an intangible asset) and acquiring the business would be beneficial to the buyer.While this level of "brand" is theoretically possible in a local residential or commercial rental market, I've yet to encounter it in the wild.

Sounds like the first tenants told the second tenants about their free rent scam.