We ask for a security deposit equal to one month's rent. 

I guess your advice will be the best solution.In that case, just remind her that her options are to: Sell her Condo and add the proceeds to her savings to buy her next primary with all cash; or, just keep saving until it equals the amount needed to buy one, all cash; or, just buy one now for maximum $150k; or, CHANGE her philosophy.

. ** and yes: I don't know how you are arriving at 50k But go see it: based on comparable sales arrive at an ARV (after repair value): then get the estimated rehab cost from a reliable contractor: Then get the ARV $: times 65% : that will give you X: minus repair cost : and that will equal your offer priceFor example: ARV is $100k : times 65% : or 65k minus 20k in renovations: so your offer will be: $45k You can't lose with this formula. 

Which would be equal to about 414k US dollars.

Move in Fees equals First Months Rent and a Security Deposit.  

Mark Douglas Equally plausible (with a touch of sarcasm) future scenario:Andrew: It's 2020 and the real estate market has corrected 10%!

They have an annual lease and their deposit was roughly equal to 1 months rent.

I'm located downtown so any-side of town is equal distance to me.

My wife is a perfectionist and gets mired in the details, treating every piece of information with equal weight. 

The exchange rules say that in order to defer 100% of capital gains taxes and depreciation recapture, you must spend all the equity received and buy property of equal or greater value.