My understanding of the concept of a short sale is that you're actually paying close to FMV for the house.

I read it over and can't really see how that could have been taken negatively. ??

I have after tax dollars sitting in a stock brokerage account.So my choice is today, do I buy more stocks , or do I buy a good almost positive , currently negative cash flow property, in what I believe is the best market in the country.Northern Virginia is exploding with Jobs and population, the federal government is just spending money like a drunken sailor.I have to pick my poison, stocks or real estate. 90% of my current wealth is in stocks/cash right now.

Its a new world and trying to use the same financial concepts that were used in the 1950's may not work so well anymore.

Sometimes you have a positive cash flow but it can become negative because of this process.

(This means that if they do find a buyer in the future, then you have a right to match the offer and buy the building.)Negatives for you:Price may be higher in the future.You may not be able to buy that building in the future.Positives for owners:The owners will have a building worth more because it is performing.The owners will be making money monthly, instead of losing it.Negatives for owners:They lose the chance to matket for owner users.They may not want to deal with negotiating and managing a lease.Option 2:See if the owners will finance some or all of the sale to you.Positives for you:You get the building now.Negatives for you:It will likely be more expensive than a bank loan.

The manner in which this is structured the broker is giving you back $5,419.13, that is why the number is negative.

Vacancy rate is 17%3. middle to low class income area4. mostly retired people.Based on this information my options are:A. to purchase 2 manufactured 3/2 homes (one for each lot at a cost of $39k each) to re-sale for $80k each (after selling and other cost) I estimated a $40k profit. the negative part of this option is that based on my research, manufactured homes may not sale for that high in this area.B. to purchase 2 mobile homes for $5k to $10k each and resale at cost just to recuperate the $30k of the land, cost of Mobil homes and any other cost.C. will be to do option A but to rent each for $500 to $600 per month based on what I can get for Section 8 in that area.Please let me know what you think or if you will consider another option.Additional facts:1. this will not be a 1031 or like kind exchange (based on IRS info)2.

That is a huge difference than in 2008 when most homes had loans (most interest only), and had higher rates, and were losing money every month due to the negative cash flow the properties were creating back then because everyone was playing the appreciation game. 

On the negative end, you run the risk that your tenant prefers to live with seemingly minor issues (e.g. pipe leaks) rather than call you to have an appropriate repair accomplished, in which case you could end up with extensive (and expensive) longer-term repair costs, such as water damage.I'm interested in some sage advice from those of you having experience applying a tenant deductible...good or bad.