They are essentially first position in the property if you cannot make the agreed upon payments and can foreclose upon you if you do not uphold your part of the contract. 

That fix/flip investor or the buy and hold investor are essentially the 'end game' for someone doing wholesaling. 

(We have done some remodeling to about half the house).Or do they just google it essentially and call it a day?

And most of BP isn't a huge fan of buying into equity essentially. 

This would essentially be a purchase and loan agreement where the current owner acts as the lender and you as the borrower.

Essentially the BRRRR strategy.

I have about 4 years left on the 5 year term and I've run the numbers which shows if I can buyout the mortgage, it would be profitable to pay the buyout penalty fees.Is there any way that I would be able to renegotiate the existing mortgage rate with my current bank or would another bank be willing to essentially "buy out" this mortgage and win my business by replacing it with a lower interest rate mortgage?

Yes, essentially and Ideally iwould be living In one of the units. 

The utilities aren't essentially in their name. 

This will help cut your learning curve down, essentially getting free mentorship from someone, if you were to bring them into the deal, even if you have to give up a big chunk of the pie)