These are one time fees but are something you should consider for your immediate out-of-pocket costs involved with the purchase.  

(yep I was involved in it before it was cool...).

My figures seem to work out quite well for all involved, but I can't help feeling I'm missing the catch somewhere, otherwise why isn't everyone else looking at this type of strategy?

Congratulations, that is a truly a win-win deal for all involved. 

If things are unraveling for them, I would call their emergency contact and get their support system involved. 

My suggestion is to be involved in your local REIA--ask around.  

Other than two domestic violence cases, police said narcotics and other illegal activities were involved in some way.

My method involves finding the owners through public records and calling them directly.  

Before easements are ordered by any court, the cost involved in allowing owner access will be assessed from all other options.

There are 20 million houses Travis That have very little equity and these houses sometimes are on quiet streets and they need no work and they are paid up so they're not in trouble, not distressedYou make money by being a problem solver for the seller and making 3 per cent as an assignment fee.What a lot of people don't realize is sellers need help but they don't understand the costs to sell with an agentCosts to sell include commissions, closing costs, sellers concessions, spruce up costs like paint and landscaping, and vacant house while the house is being sold through the agentI describe this in a long post in the starting out section of the forms, so look for that long posters a few hours involved thereBottom line here is the spring is going be really tough for real estate agents in general, and if they would focus on helping sellers selling on terms verses for cash they would make a lot more moneyAn agents would make a lot more moneyAnd buyers would get their dream home in their chosen neighborhood in their perfect school district today, not making some landlord in some crappy apartment or rental house :)