Hope to set sail sooner rather than later.

Then once you win just sail off into the sunset and live a happy life. 

I NEED an accountant to get my taxes figured out  before i get in to deep.anway today... i made that call, and it was just so... eeerrr. it knocked the wind out of my sails.  

That ship has sailed, she's already living on the property.  

It can be smooth sailing and then suddenly the wheels fall off. 

I have bought two other properties from this seller and everything has been smooth sailing so far.The third property I am currently "clear to close" on, but a Right of Redemption predicament just came up.

We have access to a reasonable amount of capital to get started and have great credit so I'm not concerned with being approved for financing once the right opportunity/ies is/are found.I am working on the what my goals are right now but my ultimate goal is to create enough income from investments (RE and otherwise) to leave W-2 work in the next 10 years, buy a sailboat, and sail the Carribean, Mediterranean, and eventually the South Pacific and Indian Oceans or, more to my wife's liking, do some slow-travel around the world stopping in places for 2-4 months at our own pace.

My 4 thand 5 th purchaces were FSBO still using the same old contract that I used 27 years ago and things sailed right thru .

Its not exactly been smooth sailing (especially not with a full time job) but Id be happy to meet up and tell you anything youd care to know from my limited experience. 

You might have been able to work a short-sale with previous owners - but it sounds like that ship has sailed.