I non-principal who is trying to control a deal by transferring to a secondary entity without being directed to do so by legal counsel causes my BS meter to flag in the orange.There may be practical reasons why record owner is not up to meeting you directly or signing in front of you. 

These include the ability to continue pledging the asset and any remains equity further, selling all or a fractional interest, and transfer of leasehold interests. 

If you paid extra on your monthly mortgage payment, the bank would not apply it towards principal and it actually means giving the bank free moneyc. if you paid next months principal payment the previous month you would avoid paying interest (BS I know)d. if you use a balance transfer check (or rather the convenience check/purchase check) that comes with the credit card, you would not pay the 3% (normal) fee and you would get the mileage/points on that transaction as well.

We paid a lawyer about $1800 to do all of the paperwork and transfer one property's ownership.

J Dorkin wrote in his recent book that transferring to an entity may allow the lender to call the loan.

Some lenders look very strictly at the last transfer, and will reset your seasoning clock based on that.

If we were to buy a larger apartment building in the metro area, professional property management is assumed as part of the business equation, and having a management company in place would allow us to transfer day-to-day management of our existing properties.

Don't use bank transfer rather check. 

Sellers' mortgages get paid out as part of the normal Title transfer process.

The house would be transferred free and clear of any liens, just like any other standard sale.