As a professional organization, if he's a member, they can help hold him accountable by putting peer pressure on him.Don't stop pushing and make sure you keep everything in writing. 

If you look good to the mortgage broker have them write a letter on your behalf saying that if you apply for mortgage in 12 months chances are very good that you would get a mortgage as long as you keep your job and protect your creditNo that is not a mortgage qualification letter, but it should satisfy the ownerNext, I would get references from my previous landlords that you were an ideal tenant.

Put your agreement in writing.

In the meantime, you need to determine and then write down exactly what your criteria is for the minimum outcome you will accept.  

But I still had my contractor write an invoice detailing everything with the cost to repair/replace, and made sure the tenant got a certified letter within the timeframe of the law.

I'm just throwing around the idea as I actually have time to drive for dollars and I have time to market and write hand written notes and keeping a few deals a year to flip would be awesome as well-- without doing all of the research now, is looking more into the idea a good idea? 

And if I like it, I want an offer in within the next couple of hours.Be willing to write loads of offers.  

What is the best method to basically cold call or write to a person who owns the vacant lot next to my rental house.

The wholesaling was a business activity, and the 2 CPAs I asked said that it is definitely a tax write off.My reason for asking is: I don't have a LLC/corp associated with my rental business, so would this wholesaling campaign be included as expenses for a property that was purchased subsequently to it?

BTW as a lender, I don't want to know about any of this foundation stuff (or whatever) in writing (this includes in any contract addenda).