The student housing situation is desperate right now and students are paying upwards of $1,200 per bedroom.

Desperate sellers do desperate things.

Because commuting is such a challenge urban infill is desperately needed, and yet, getting sign-off for those projects is nigh impossible.

@Jon Klaus I agree with you, but I'd add another target who desperately, DESPERATELY needs to learn this lesson; the United States Congress

We are kind of in a slump and we're desperately trying to progress.

That being said, if you get into escrow, it may be something to try to bring up if you sense that the seller is desperate to close with you.If you are attempting to owner occupy after the purchase, you and your partner would need to take as tenants in common or something similar (i.e, both of you on title), and then each of you could seek to occupy a unit as owners - that would be 2 units total. 

When I first saw the house it was pretty clear that the walls desperately needed a coat of paint.

Sorry if I sound like a nut...desperate times call for desperate measures...just sent Ocwen a mort-mod package but I will be amazed if the endeavour is fruitful...We make $150K/combined but FRUGAL living (never had honeymoon or vacation) plus medical, stud-loans & the $3700/mo payment is still too-tight.

How many time have bandit signs absolutely saved desperate sellers that had no way out but to call a bandit sign and then they got out from under the house.

Unless it's an owner who seems desperate.