Pretty close to asking" does not get you anywhere in Milwaukee for example, we have currently an average list to sale ration of 102%. 65% of all deals close over asking, but there are plenty of ways to get an offer accepted, even if it's not cash and even if it's not the highest.

@Amelia McGee About the seller, as long as you think he's acting irrationally and you're acting rationally (because we're all irrational), the longer it's going to take to make a deal with him.

I can't see how any rational person thinks people can live for free for a year while the landlord pays their bills.

However, if I do that based on a $17 an hr job, my debt to income ration will still be over 50% after 6 months since my credit cards limits are so low.

Some of that may be rational, depending on where you are (housing shortages), but much of what is driving buying is a fear of missing out, coupled with low interest rates and a stratification of unemployment (most white collar workers haven’t missed a paycheck and many are looking to upgrade right now).

You're rationalizing the negative CF again. 

THink the bigger issue, over time, is dealing with bad reviews on stuff like Yelp or FB.You need to keep watching for these and then have a prepared and rational (ie no flaming) response stating your case.

Here are my comments on my questions...and why I asked them:1 - Setting a calendar goal, instead of a financial goal (profit and/or CF on the property you buy) will cause you to rationalize a bad deal into a good one. 

What rational has someone given you arguing against getting one?

He was stockpiling guns, ammo, canned food, emergency rations, bottled water, survival gear, knives, duck calls, and...booze!