One doesn't compare nominal values when comparing one place to another.  

.- Assuming a $200k house with 20% down and $200/mo cashflow,  - If you throw cashflow at mortgage every month, you will pay it off in 20.5 yrs as opposed to 30  - You definitely increase net worth faster by doing this (an extra $3,948 at year 10, which is pretty small, but still something compared to the total $24,000 cash you would have saved over the course of 10yrs at $200/mo)  - You hit $80k in equity at 6yrs 5mo as opposed to 6yrs 8mo    - this is the real advantage because it allows you to acquire another property faster, but there is a very small difference here- Overall, I would say following about this strategy:  - only do it if you are confident that low-interest fixed-loans will be available 6-10yrs down the road when you would be looking to refi    - would be a shame to lose that advantage for the small extra advantage of paying down mortgage over that time period  - this still seems like a no-risk, no-tax savings account or bond    - instead of parking extra income (from job or whatever) at bank with minimal returns while waiting to buy another property, "invest the money in your mortgage" by paying it down   - I suspect this strategy might start to look better if you had an extra $1-2k/mo from job to put into this to really supercharge equity which is what David was talking about in book, but I'd have to crunch numbers more           - of course, have to make sure that refi closing costs won't wipe out any gains, and you don't risk losing a low rate fixed loan as @Robert Purcell said    - also, I suspect that nominal stock market returns of 7-10%/yr would outperform this (even with capital gains) because the money will be invested for 6yrs before pulling out for a new down payment (which means long-term capital gains as opposed to short-term and you have a better chance to smooth out stock market cycles so portfolio doesn't crash when you want to liquidate and use it as a down payment for property), but I'd have to crunch numbers more- Interesting idea to tune results, but I don't think I'll use it any time soon.

His brother is aproject manager for his father's company and we would be able toinvolve him to oversee the project for a nominal amount of money.

I presume he is going to be renting it out.I can tell the MLS folks to let me negotiate directly with said broker or negotiate on my behalf (for a nominal fee).If I choose to negotiate directly with the broker on this offer, is there any legal or other precedent that prevents us from suggesting in the negotiation that we let his "official" offer expire (he put a 48 hour clock on it) and we take the deal offline and accept it as is to eliminate the commission where we both are happy campers in the end?

Normally the cost is nominal to me, and I feel that it is a nice gesture to waive the charge.

I am aware that $50 is nominal.

If that's the case, the nominal fee that a real estate agent charges will be well worth it to have both parties sleep well at night knowing that the transaction followed the correct process legally and fairly.  

I assume a pretty nominal rate on the money while waiting to re-invest.

The new end Buyer or nominee, has to agree to pay you a fee for nominating them and allowing them to take over the contract5.

Need to look at actual inputs (inflation we expect, nominal GDP growth we expect, and therefore real GDP growth we expect, etc) to have any credible argument here.