You owe him $2000 (whither you agree or not, the contract is very weak by the sounds of it and I'm not sure you will be able to argue that you don't owe him) which he is telling you to pay for him to come back.

Try replacing the breaker it may be weak.

It's unsecured, non performing, not even an arms length transaction, to a weak borrower.

You should consider calling and talking to the Execs in the various states you are considering as well as some of the brokers like Joanne Stevens who will take time to help newbies.Your own strengths and weaknesses will play a role in what and where you should be buying as will your current and future goals.

They are all investor friendly and have all their strengths and weaknesses.

@Ginny NelsonAs someone who has been doing business in both Canada and the U.S.A. for almost 30-years, I see them as different with each having their strengths and weaknesses. 

If you are unknowingly overpaying, you may be a a weak neighborhood and have problems. 

I'm very cognizant of the fact that my weakness is bringing in income.

When you know they want the place you take advantage of their weakness.

After being at my place for year and with a steady job income, I started to think about real estate investing   Though everybody that knows me knows my weakness is my conservative mindset.