@Jim Kalish
Hi Jim. Do you think that the seller is concerned about how much money you are making, or concerned about how much money the seller is getting? I think that the seller is not too concerned about your profitability. If the seller is looking at what the neighbor got, and the seller has no motivation for a discounted sale, that one won't work out. If the seller is motivated, that's what you want to spend time on. Is the seller willing to give up equity in exchange for convenience, or not? Most sellers won't ask how much you are making. If the seller does ask the question, you might want to ask why they are asking the question (in a polite way, not a confrontational way). If you do feel like answering the question in some form, I recommend responding at a higher level, not a detailed level. Essentially, your offer is based on the retail value of the property after renovations, less all of the costs and expenses you think you'll incur.