S-8 is not a bad deal when handled properly, professionally, and intentionally.  

That is my intention starting into this business.

I just wonder if I should have played it differently and tried to sell it fsbo to an end user with no intention of buying it myself.

Has anyone ever used a Lease/Option to control a property, with the intent to flip it?

A better approach might be to send a letter of intent to the listing agent with some options that you have been able to come up with for creative solutions you have used in the past to help foster win-win sales.

Basically, if you have a property that is vacant for 30 or more days with no intentions of getting it occupied, you are supposed to register that property with the city for a fee of $200 / year.  

My intention always is to complete my due diligence before putting anything under contract so that I won't have to make use of any "out" clauses, but I also want to protect myself. 

In some cases a Letter of Intent may be sufficient to get the ball rolling

Since my house was a foreclosure and they thought it required some work, this was the only loan that the bank was willing to accept so I took it with intentions of refinancing as soon as I could.

@Angelo DiGiacintoAgents run the spectrum, if they get creative financing and their broker gets creative financing, like lease purchase, lease options, land contracts, wraps, etc, then get a conference with the listing agent and the sellers together at the home.Present the solution and get a letter of intent to purchase signed, and get an attorney.