Just some comments to flipper 101 as to that land contract transaction that went south.
Well it does not surprise me since anybody can bind the other and to split the legal title with the seller and equitable title going to the vendee or buyer can lead to diasterous results on the title on the property if the buyer claims an equitable interest which he has..and getting a tenant out if he defaults can proves to be a nightmare and how he binded you by encumbering the property is unbelievable.
If you suggest using an outside entity such as a trustee why not just use a land trust and get all the benefits of using that enitity and thus by the trustee holding bot the legal and equitable title called the doctrine of equitable conversion now you have a situation where not other party can take advantage of one another and you would all vote to your designated trustee on any and all affairs of the trust property due to it being a beneficiary directed trust so you must ALL be in agreement, sure avoids litigation and disputes and no one can circumvent you on your investment.
I know that feeling of getting burned which is why I use land trusts in my investing since all parties are equally protected in any given transaction.
We all made our mistakes in this business..that is for sure..