Bank took it, huge wealth transfer from a group of 40 principals and teachers and salt of the earth American middle class new retirees, to some hot Wall Street opportunists that found a way to refinance what they couldn’t.  

And if you're  doing it yourself, what means are you using to make sure the title is clear of any leans and making sure that the transfer of ownership is a smooth process?

It means that if you transfer the name of the title, then the entire balance of the loan is due immediately.

agree with other posters that it could get messy but “Each TIC may transfer or encumber their property interest without the consent of the other TIC”.

The next week, I see that somebody had, in fact, deposited the check that I originally sent over a month ago, the first day possible after I made the transfer via PayPal.

Because the title was transferred with a Quit Claim Deed. 

This may or may not pass muster in our case.Which, jumping to conclusion, implies that there is no standard way of "transferring" the loan directly, in order, having the 3 of us (me, buyer, bank) sitting at the same closing table and performing 1 atomic transaction.

Should I just let it go, sue the seller for non-performance or transfer my contract to a more patient investor?

Through that family member's life they have had some knowledge skills, and abilities, to accumulate a net worth which allows them to participate in this investment, and those may transfer, albeit tangentially, to REI. 

Most people have the app nowadays and it's extremely convenient to transfer the funds into your bank account.