The closing agent is a sufficient escrow agent, but if I am not going through a closing agent I have the funds held by my Atty along with specific instructions that the lender and I both agree to in writing.  

This is from the IRS website, instructions for filling out form 5695.

Are there hidden cost that are associated with purchasing foreclosure property?

Just discovered bigger pocket, felt like just found a hidden gem.

Hello friend I did the same as you, in fact I got the idea from a seo page that gave me the instructions to do so and it served me a lot

I ended up Ubering her to closing.Problem: She didn't bring her ID to closing.Solution: Her granddaughter received instructions to take a picture of the ID and send it to the attorney once she arrived home.A couple of days later, the attorney reached out and told me that both the seller and buyer documents we're ready to go and to notify both parties that we would be set to close for the following day.

The Realtor has a fiduciary responsibility of obedience, which means they must follow your instructions as long as they are legal.

For the heat, I like to have a thermostat kind of hidden and locked at set temp such as 68 degrees, and have baseboard electric heaters in the units that way the tenants can "boost" the heat all they want on their own dime.

Each state/locality can have different time periods or instructions -- some require interest calculated on deposits, some give you 30 or 45 days to do it, so you have to know your area rules to avoid issues. 

We have three kinds of "wholesalers" in FL: licensees representing interest in property they do not own, people that PURCHASE and then resell, and then the FRAUDS AND SCAMMERS, many knowing they are acting illegally and hiding like a cockroach trying to keep their illegal activities hidden from state regulators.