I guess a flat seasonal fee like any insurance policy, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.

As long as you don't lose money. 

Cash flow is the buffer between keeping my property long enough to get rich and losing the property in foreclosure. 

I wouldn’t go there myself… you lose a lot of control, your house will see a lot more traffic / damage.  

This also protects my downside risk because I could very easily lower my rents if I had to in a market downturn and compete vs. being forced to sell because of losing money. 

It's not only the money you'll lose, it's the time you spend (I figure worth $100 hr) and the mental anguish and stress.

Trust me; you don't want to miss those crucial dates and risk losing money or even blowing the whole deal.

This could be an opportunity to add value by offering to help with clearing or relocating those items as part of any potential agreement.Why This Could Be a Good Move for YouYou see long-term potential in the property, especially with the large lot and development possibilities (even if those are years down the line).As the current tenants, you have the advantage of a direct relationship with the landlord and familiarity with the property, reducing competition and risk.This could be a chance to lock in a property that you might otherwise lose if it hit the open market, especially in today’s competitive environment.Challenges to ConsiderIf the landlord is emotionally tied to the property or reliant on rental income, they may be reluctant to sell.Financing could be tricky, especially with today’s interest rates and the gap between the current rent and what a conventional loan might cost.The development potential you’re interested in is likely a long-term play, which means the property could be financially tight in the short term, especially if you’re only breaking even or slightly negative on cash flow.Structuring a Potential DealTo make this feasible, you’ll likely need to explore creative financing options that align with both your financial capacity and the landlord’s goals.Seller Financing: Propose a deal where the landlord acts as the lender, allowing you to make monthly payments directly to them.

Better to get what you can, than to lose it all.

Because, the lender is entitled to know what risk they are taking with their money.That being said, on seller financing, if someone gets sued and loses, the lien/judgement can be filed at the county, (it's not automatic, someone has to prepare and send the paperwork) which the bureaus will pick it up on producing a credit report.