If you continue making payments on the 1st, they may do nothing and keep accepting payments.

Rents and prices are steadily going up and they are continuing to build. 

Keep listening and learning, and please continue to let us know how things turn out.Oh, and if you don’t get to buy this property, you can (after the fact) ask the agent (politely and respectfully) why they think your offer was not the successful offer.

From there continue to learn and grow your income/savings.

You can continue making the annual payments and preserve your interest.

Do I even have to disclose that to them as long as I get the loan before I start school and continue to make payments on time?

Right now, I am thinking of turnkey out-of-state if the market continues at this pace because property taxes are so high in El Paso and rent growth has not increased with prices. 

Lots of TIME and lots of continuous outreach.

Sorry the copy and paste is horrible and I don't know how else to fix without having to just type it out :(.ABANDONMENT:Tenant covenant to occupy the Premises and shall be in default if Tenant does not occupy the Premises on a regular,continuing, and consistent basis unless otherwise agreed to by Agent in writing.

Realistically you're probably taking a haircut on these purchases, and definitely continuing to lose money every month if you keep them.