Get it under agreement for less than asking price and offer to bring the loan current and have them carry that loan.The way I see it is they are just getting MLS properties under agreement - the last five I looked at had been sitting on the market for more than 150 days (overpriced) because the payoff of the loan would not be satisfied at lower price point. 

While I was open to carrying a note, I wasn’t going to go that high.Unfortunately, there’s been an unrealistic expectation set by the gurus that relying on seller financing is a viable strategy for buying a business.

The home office deduction cannot increase your passive losses:You can only deduct home office expenses up to your net rental incomeIf your rentals are already showing a loss, the home office deduction won't helpExcess deductions carry forward to future yearsMust apply §280A limitations first, then passive loss rulesExample: 🔢Rental Income: $24,000Regular Rental Expenses: -$20,000Net Before Home Office: $4,000Home Office Expenses: $3,000 [using allocations, not the Simplified Method]Result: Can deduct full home officeCounter Example: 🔢Rental Income: $24,000Regular Rental Expenses: -$26,000Net Before Home Office: -$2,000 (Loss)Home Office Expenses: $3,000Result: No home office deduction this year (carries forward)Reality Check: 🤔Let's be honest - while technically you need to:Calculate net rental incomeApply §280A limitations [Consult your CPA on this!]

Do you carry earthquake, flood or termite insurance?

I would look for a SubTo or owner carry property.

Here's the breakdown:Financing: We used a seller carry deal with 25% down ($100k), a 30-year term (balloon in 10 years), and a 4.68% interest rate.

How to Structure the Deal to Protect Your $20KIf you’re willing to cover the $20K arrears, here’s how to protect yourself:Option 1: Secure Your Funds with a Lien or Escrow AgreementUse an escrow account: Deposit the $20K into escrow with clear terms—if the assumption is denied, the funds return to you.Record a promissory note & lien: If the deal falls through, this would give you a legal claim against the property to recover your funds.Option 2: Sub-To + Wrap While You AssumeSubject-to deal: Take over the existing loan payments before assumption approval, securing control.Escrowed deed transfer: The seller signs the deed into escrow only to be recorded after assumption approval, ensuring they can’t back out.Lease option fallback: If the assumption is denied, consider a lease option agreement until another solution is found.Option 3: Negotiate a Seller Financing HybridAsk the seller to carry a small second note for the $60K equity gap at favorable terms.Use your $20K as a down payment, structured as a secured loan against the property.3.

Here's the breakdown:Financing: We used a seller carry deal with 25% down ($100k), a 30-year term (balloon in 10 years), and a 4.68% interest rate.

This means that every year, your IRR (Internal Rate of Return) will increase.4) In an appreciation heavy market like San Diego, the IRR is going to be the best way to calculate your earnings as cash flow is fairly low relative to initial costs (down-payment, closing costs, carry costs while placing tenants)5) To calculate your IRR, you want to use this formula: (Appreciation + loan pay down +/- Net rents)/ down- payment.you can include the Closing Costs, and carry costs, but I usually do not.

Rental income carries the debt service 100% How did you find this deal and how did you negotiate it?