Is there currently a lack of housing, etc. 

You could even let them double end the deal for 5% commission because you’re taking out the competition so there’s no chance of a bidding war.2.

This shows your complete lack of understanding about the subject.

The deal was valued based on a recent sale of the local Holiday Inn, (only real competition for us) which also needed to undergo renovation.

The partner in question has multiple times the loan amount in his bank accounts/liquid assets.You should definitely be able to find other options with more competitive terms.

However the lack of a separate space will be an issue down the road.

Even then, there is still a lot of competition for deals.

However, your situation—having a full VA loan, ample savings, and a pre-approval in a competitive range—puts you in a strong position to navigate these challenges.Given your circumstances and goals, buying a home could indeed be a way to build equity for yourself rather than paying rent that contributes to someone else's mortgage.

Apologies for the lack of info here.

Tax sales may not get a lot of activity but whet it lacks in volume it makes up ten fold in quality.