The only potential harm I see in sending an email is it could wind up on a spammers list but your email already is on hundreds of spammers lists.

And it occurred to me that someone may have already done this. 

These two factors can occur at the same time.

Auctions - again depending on the state these occur after the filing of either a notice of trustee sale (non-judicial) or notice of sheriff sale (judicial).  

With regard to the BWI Meetup, when does those occur?

The more recently such events occurred, the more adverse the impact is on the credit profile.

For instance, you buy a property for $150k, give the renter a lease at $1,500 per month for 2 years, and also add an option to buy for an additional $300 a month, to occur at the end of the 2-year lease.  

It doesn't happen often but it does occur.

However I totally agree with you.. this scheme simply should not be used by anyone who does not have SIGNIFICANT CASH reserves... the chance of harming the seller and their credit is huge and especially in a state like Texas were a bank can and WILL get a deficiency judgment on a foreclosure.

Instead of suing to honor the contract I simply took him to small claims which was 7500... laid it out to the judge that we were harmed as we spend a lot of time and money putting these contracts together .. and re ruled on the bench seller of timber walk over hands me a 7500 dollar check ( he not happy) and off we go.. so there is some strength in contract.. and if you spent thousands on marketing direct mail etc.. you maybe could make this claim...