Right of First Refusal Issue

[Nate Daigle]

Hi All,

I am just breaking into wholesaling. My first direct mail campaign hit mailboxes this week. The response has been OK. 1,000 postcards netted about 20 calls and a half dozen or so prospects so far. 

I went to view a property yesterday which has some promise, but there is a first right of refusal on the deed. The person named is a local developer who IS interested in purchasing the property. The seller does not want to sell to this person though, claiming that the first right of refusal was mistakenly put into the contract by her attorney. This man owns the property next door and she claims that the contract was supposed to address a shared parking lot.

So, 2 questions on this...

Is there a way to circumvent the first right of refusal ethically?

Since this would be my first deal, am I better off to just walk away and look for something a bit more straightforward?