One of the realtors was skeptical that I can get into this market for $200k, and, I agree, it's a bit of a stretch, but with the pay cut I'll be taking going down to Texas, that's about as much of a mortgage as we can afford on one income.

Unfortunately, you are likely going to have to take the hit on this no matter how you cut it.

Cuts down on the back and forth.

The Fed is expected to start cutting their interest rates in September, which should have a knock-on effect for mortgage rates coming down.  

If it’s a larger home that could see a dip in occupancy during those months it may be worth it to take the 15% cut but have it fully booked!

If you have $30k to invest, don't waste it on this. 

Most of the ones we won worked out ok, but one wreaked so badly of cat urine even after stripping out all the soft surfaces we cut our losses and sold it to a handyman unfinished who wanted to live in it and refinish it himself.  

I'm not going there because it too would be a complete waste of time and money, but if you are really wanting to "catch a bad guy", that might be a more fruitful route.

The problem is that we’re wasting valuable time BEFORE we even know if a deal is a possibility. 

They NEVER EVER cut the grass so the weeds are all over my backyard chain-link fence that divides our properties.