Then, we came across some pockets around SoCal that piqued our interest like the new stadium coming in Hollywood Park and Long Beach where there still seems to be good deals floating around.

So, my options are glue-down tiles or what I think I'd prefer is a floating floor.  

My thoughts on the close proximity is to keep the home long term after my daughter graduates and continue to rent it out to students, and not drift to far north of the campus, due to crime concerns. 

If/when mortgage rates drift up, I don't see it affecting my tenant pool in any way.  

I am certain someone in the mold industry will come by here and tell me that I'm wrong, mold spores can still be floating, etc, and I don't disagree that there are probably certain situations in which you wouldn't want to try this yourself.

I'd be very cautious.Your colleague has little incentive to keep the property a float, should things go South.

Leveling cement is appropriate for a floating floor.

If you wanted to be a little more direct, you could also get your realtor to verbally float your $240k to the other side just to gauge their response and proceed accordingly. 

., the word I'm getting is, they had to go Pulp Fiction on her with the Narcan if you catch my drift.

Understand whether the deal has a fixed rate or a floating interest rate.