1st his bank has to be okay with paying the wholesale cost. 2 . trust the owner will cut you a check at closing.I would call the title company you work with and they will know the exact steps.I just closed my first wholesale this way!!!!!!!!!!!  

Your friends problem is not your problem.Concentrate on getting the property at the lowest possible cost and cut your friend lose.

Copy, cut, paste. 

Would I be able to offer less by cutting out realtor and their fees?

I know the general feeling on the forums is either (1) fire him / cut your losses or (2) suck it up and move forward as some of it is my mistake for not insisting on receiving the plan (god knows if they're even following a construction plan). 

You have to buy the 12' pieces and cut them to whatever your soffit overhang requires.

Josh,I can say from experience, that having your license literally cuts out the middleman with regards to the access to the MLS.

If they don't agree with the appraisal they will cut the value.

Looking forward to the next deal & hoping to cut total time from purchase to sale from 7 months to 3 months.

Or cut back loan to value to meet the DSCR ratio, as in: more equity needed.