I was wondering about the suggestion to ask for $500 or so up front in case the seller backs out of doing a short sale when they find out there will be a deficiency judgment.

These are tough but there is a famous case where Campbell Soup lost an exclusive buy agreement with a carrot farmer.  

If it says something else, such as “duly authorized Member” then the plot thickens because an LLC Resolution would have been required (and the other members would have been asked to sign it). 

She wanted the "prettiest" one with the souped up websight and black Mercedes.

You will pay 3% or so up front to complete this transaction.

Gifts are for friends and family, not clients.As for teaching your children about giving, we have worked a soup kitchen, we have donated gifts to Angel Tree, we give whenever we can.

I think Campbell Soup Company might be a good stock to buy over the long haul here.

George Frye I just did a BiggerPockets podcast that should be able to give you a good soup to nuts overview on the note business: http://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2013/07/25/podcast-dave-van-horn-note-investing-private-money/Hopefully it can answer some of your questions.

She is constantly out and about educating the real estate community and doing exchanges soup to nuts.

The equivalent of Chicken Soup for the Real Estate Dreamer's Soul.