I'm a big "life doesn't exist on a spreadsheet" guy, but I'd suggest letting the numbers influence your decision rather than the hesitation to let the once in a lifetime rate go.

@Ryan Moyerit's more like 'rent influence' than 'rent control,' right?

The bank may have been influenced by the fact that we had previously borrowed and then paid off 2 loans totaling $5 million also secured by single properties (with no personal guarantees).  

If a seller is being this stubborn they 1) have very little motivation to sell, and 2) don't like to listen to professional advice.

The trip charge is what they pay the vendor qualified for warranty work, and it's usually 1/2 what that vendor would charge for a normal job, so there's little motivation for them to respond quickly or work hard.5.

A BIG advantage to finding business is your SOI (Sphere Of Influence) aka people you know.

They could get a risk free return by investing in T-bills, so the delta between that RFR and what you're offering needs to be rewarding enough for them to pursue it.As for the 2nd part of your question, that really is a mystery :)The low interest rate environment always leads to these folks misleading people and mismatching deal operations, and sometimes even defaulting on the property and losing it altogether.Probably because a bunch of these syndicators want to be cool Instagram/TikTok influencers and throw up their arms and talk about how many doors they own, but what do I know lol. 

If you told him you have been playing pickup games for the past year and need help improving your jump shot, now he has evidence you're motivated and a specific goal he can quickly help you work towards.

In today's market, with low foreclosure discount compared to past buyer's markets and a lot of "motivated buyers", the risk/reward ratio keeps me far away from the courthouse steps. 

Exactly, if someone else has a different motivation, lower return threshold, or is a fool, let them have it.