Have the "jab, jab, jab, right hook" mentality.

His agent said he was told he could fight it but I think in the end he has just given up so that's why he fled to another state.I doubt he will try to sell to anyone else, he's a bit mentally unstable but at the same time, I would like to protect my interest in the property if possible, or at a minimum be able to recover my earnest money.

Bill, Thank you, honestly, I have a metric ton of questions, but I'd like to educate myself a bit more first, I don't like the idea of people coming up with the "tell me how to breathe mentality" but rest assured, when I get my questions together you will be one of the first people I reach out to.

When you are in a stronger position (both mentally and monetarily), you'll be less hesitant to take action as opportunity presents itself.

You said it best, trust is a two way street and may I add, we all need to trust each other a bit until there is reason not to, if maybe even only for the sake of our mental health (not healthy to live that paranoid all the time over everything). 

.” - Kobe BryantWhat we can all learn from Kobe‘s legendary life and career are in his 10 rules of success:- Follow your passion - Elevate others - Find mentors - Outwork everyone - Have a champion’s mentality - Learn from failure, don’t fear failure - Focus on winning - Have patience - Achieve greatness - Inspire others to be great"

Getting over that hill and the mental block of analysis paralysis is the hurdle one must clear in order to fully grasp a siuation.

Another mental breakdown.

Another mental breakdown.

The amount of mental freedom real estate investing created early on was remarkable.