He is an expert.

I really hope this was helpful I'm no expert by any means.

If you file something with the real estate commission they assign an investigator but before that you generally have to certify under oath and get notarized that what you are saying is true and correct.

Both units of the duplex are rented to section 8 tennents so the property manager would need to be section 8 certified.

@Matt Smith Of course, @Dave Foster is always the expert on 1031s, but I would point out another hiccup for you, which is that your current property isn't an investment property. 1031 exchanges are only for exchanging like-kind investment properties, so you could not sell your current residence and exchange it for a fixer upper.

Not an expert on this, but the times I have purchased a house (personal residence) the lender insisted on knowing exactly where the down payment was coming from, and it couldn't be borrowed money.When I purchased my first house, the 'rents gave me $3000 to help with the down payment.

@John Thedford My wholesale contacts say “$2,500 Non refundable (certified funds) deposit locks this deal up.”

I have a number of suggestions, but without knowing your complete picture, it would be inappropriate for me to share them.Find your self a fee-based CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER(TM).  

Any advice from the experts out there?  

If we have to demand the deposit, as the law says we should do, it says to do it by certified mail.