But without them doing something like that they have nothing at all on the table and can walk away leaving you holding.Good Luck

If I offer $9,500 at closing she can pay off the back taxes and walk away from the table with $500.

If you can get in and out while making $5-7K, you still leave money on the table for a rehabber, plus you get quick cash to fund your next deal.Otherwise, there's a chance that the $25K in repairs balloons into the low $30s, and then, between transaction fees, agent commission, and holding costs, you might net $15-20K for several months of work.Often, a quick nickel is better than a slow dime!

He could no document any income; it was all under the table or "in his daughter's account". 

Hope to see you at the closing table. 

But it means you'll have to go to the settlement table with cash.  

While doing the math, start with your agent giving, say, 1% to their broker - the broker is the one taking the legal risk.Then assume the total buyers commission is 2% or 2.5% on that $1M house - that's more typical here.Now, think about how much experience you want helping you with your purchase - someone who's closed 500 deals in your area probably brings a tad more to the table (and won't work under your proposed structure) than someone who hasn't specialized and is new.IMHO, your mindset isn't worth it on the buyers side.

You're talking about the Green Mountain area?

I'm pretty well-off, so if I want to give an older disabled lady a break on a month's rent before she has to leave the home she's lived in for 21 years, it's not really creating any danger that my kids will go without food or college tuition or tickets to Star Wars or anything.I'm really just trying to be cautious and see if there is any legal ramification I'm not considering that makes it a bad idea to give them a 1-month lease.When I start talking like this my mother would tell me to "kick the table" and get mad.   

When an investor or company puts time and energy into building a relationship with me and brings something to the table, values my time and shows me there can be a win-win for both of us, I am going to pour a lot more than just a 15 minute CMA into that relationship.