Very good news. Get some inspections so you will have written facts.

What Laura said. Also, assuming you're going to do this transaction without a broker to help him net more profit from the sale, get yourselves a good lawyer (apart from the lawyer you'll have to pay for, for your mortgage lender). It might kill you to lay out the cash, but your guy is probably in big ass financial trouble, Susan. He pays no attention to his rent you pay. He doesn't pay bills he should be paying. That's what I know, from your surface conversations, here. It's probably not the half of it.

You want to make sure you don't inherit any of his mess, when you buy the house. Also? He's gone through a divorce recently, right? You want your asses covered from every angle.

This post is not offered in the spirit of pessimism. I think you should go for it, provided you can afford it, and the house inspection (pay more for a good one) proves the structure is sound enough to make it worth your while. I just want you to protect yourself.

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Grrr. I just got a crack in my windshield from a rock from a big truck on the highway.

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Ick, sj. Is it a large crack?

All of the house talk in Natter and Bitches is making me very glad that I'm already locked into a mortgage. I swear, if I wasn't, I'd be too scared to attempt it now.

Yay for Nora & Tom and good luck to Susan!

Anne, I think you and your mom should treat yourselves to a massage.

I must work today. Send someone with whips and chains. If they don't use them to make me work, at least I might have some fun.

Ginger, I'd love to send a nice cabana boy dressed in leather...but if I actually find one, I'm keeping him. This'll have to do - GET TO WORK!

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Good luck on the house getting Susan! And a lawyer is definitely in order. This guy seems pretty messed up but here's hoping that works to your advantage!

I'm hoping for something similar to happen to some very good friends here. They've rented their house for over 10 years and are going to offer to buy it soon. I'm afraid that the value of the property (which is now zoned both commercial and residential) now is just not going to make it worth it for their landlord to sell to them no matter how much he likes them. Which makes me personally sad...it was my first home in Baltimore. And I spend a lot of time there. And they'll never be able to find a reasonably priced house with such an amazing backyard where we have all our cookouts and summer parties. ... sniff.

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I just got a crack in my windshield from a rock from a big truck on the highway.

sj, did you happen to get the trucking company name and any identifying numbers on the truck? Up here (insert canuckistan joke), companies will often respond to complaint letters with compensation, if you have details.

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Thanks for the towl snaps and kicks to get me going. I'm sure they helped.

One class down, one to go. Let's see if I can get my homework done on time...

I'm hungry, and I don't want my yogurt shake. I want real food. Maybe some mashed potatoes...hmmm...must consider...

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I should work too. Instead, I'm going to fob the client off with excuses and tell him he'll have it by Monday.

I stayed up late reading. Then I couldn't sleep. Then Kara came and crawled into bed with me, guaranteeing no sleep, and now it's morning and I don't know where my night went.

Good luck on the house, Susan. I hope everything goes smoothly.

Anne, I second the massage suggestion. There's a massage school here that I've been meaning to check out. Inexpensive, but possibly even better than Greg's darn good attempts. Maybe there's one near you.

I'm thinking of eating oreos for breakfast now. That's probably a bad thing.

vw, I hope you're in the shower or on your way to school or wherever you're supposed to be.

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Maybe some mashed potatoes...hmmm...must consider...

Mashed potato potato pancakes!!! I just make a mashed potato ball and fry it in a little olive oil, flattening as I go. So simple and delicious and I totally want one now!

One of the departments brought in breakfast this morning. It was all carby sweet stuff from BJs. Which fine...but I was craving some salty breakfast treats after listening to a story on NPR about how Freud's nephew popularized eggs & bacon as the "all American breakfast."

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Mashed potato potato pancakes!!! I just make a mashed potato ball and fry it in a little olive oil, flattening as I go. So simple and delicious and I totally want one now!

Oh, I LOVE potato pancakes! One of my favorite things at this restaurant we go to all the time. Mmmmmmm... Now I want one!

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Speaking of food... Sail made me the most amazing cottage cheese pancakes last week. Was it just last week? It was!

And now I'm sad again.

But - vw, one class down is of the good. Go you!

Deena, any chance for a nap today? I can't imagine taking on your two little ones without any sleep.

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