The question here is what is the likelihood someone would complain/ a government body would act on it.Even if the current use is illegal, all of this is a bit of a risk/return calculation.

Maybe you could offer them cash for keys in lieu of going thru an eviction  I'm wanting to have some sort of monetary penalty for early vacation.

@Lee Rimmer Requiring a deposit with an application is not at all uncommon and is in no way some sort of scam.

I was thinking about advertising my business on one side such as "cash for homes" and on the other side offer some sort of money for people who know someone else who is wanting to sell and get paid if I close on the property they referred me to. 4.

I cannot find anything of the sort and drives me crazy!

I was thinking about advertising my business on one side such as "cash for homes" and on the other side offer some sort of money for people who know someone else who is wanting to sell and get paid if I close on the property they referred me to. 4.

@Eddie Shah If you are thinking of waiting, for prices to decline I assume, you might consider putting the money to work via shorter term private lending or some sort of syndication deal and still get double digit returns on your money.  

How is sort of a matter of what your priorities are.

Does anybody have experience with this sort of closing and how funds are dispersed?

I think you have to go to the city county building and actually sort through the files.By files I mean actual file folders and paper.