You are your own best judge so the less you have to depend on Realtors, property managers etc (who are pushing you to buy to make a buck) to make those judgements for you, the better off you will be.

I am sure you have heard success stories primarily from those that push various types of REI education. 

I've only had to do it a few times and they haven't pushed back.

It is quiet and does not push dust around for those who are allergic. 

In any case,  that is why I am pushing for this one.

Wait it out, there is no advantage to pushing a judge and risking pi**ing them off.

If they want to negotiate a payment plan or decide to push back, you can deal with that in subsequent letters.

Your only option would really be to partner with him, but I'm not sure why he would share.If your post had indicated that you are a fighter, that you tend to look at things "for the principle of the matter" and that you don't like being pushed around, I'd advise that you buckle up, get your checkbook out and hire a great lawyer. 

The price has been lowered $5k, and it's pushing mid-September.

Denton, Sanger, Ponder, Krum, Aubrey area together are pushing 300,000 in population, and that's going to explode in the next decade.