I write "competition" in quotes because I collaborate with my local "competition" instead of competing with them - common among MTR operators.

I am just curious if the bill is dead or is it coming back under a new write-up that will pass?

As Judge Judy says, "if it's not in writing then it didn't happen!" 

I do not know him, but the path he is leading you is a difficult path    Note difficult does not imply impossible; there are people who are successful with S8 housing    In my area s8 is so undesirable that they write laws trying to make it challenging to not allow S8 tenants.  

Write in detail any last steps (like site cleanup or payment) that need to be completed.

Then think about writing off your cellphone, your internet, you car, your home office, your tax prep, etc etc etc.  

That said, hiring lawyers to write contracts, background and credit checks on strangers that already look nefarious may just add to the stress that we're trying to get rid of.

Write as yourself, not a company, and tell them you are trying to buy your first property in your own backyard and would love to have a conversation whether they want to sell or not (they probably know someone else).

Hopefully you can show where he didn't honor the agreement that cost changes had to be approved...hopefully that approval was supposed to be in writing.

Some buy to park money, others do 1031 exchanges or they simply buy them for a tax write-off.