Not a flip, not a rental, not in the near term anyway.Since the bank did not acknowledge my last offer of $250K way back when, is it worth wasting my time or my agent's time to submit a far lower offer?

Your wife does not have to be on the mortgage but in most cases must acknowledge the mortgage.

GOOD AND VALUABLE CONSIDERATION: I have received good and valuable consideration in signing The Agreement, and I acknowledge both the receipt and the sufficiency of the consideration. ________ 4.

Please sign here to acknowledge that you have read and understand that this rental is temporary and indefinite.” 

A typical example is that we see that one of the homeowners is a serviceman and we acknowledge that detail and thank them for their service or that one of the owners has recently deceased and we offer our condolences.I can see the potential power of this, but I can not help being the devil's advocate to this approach.

@Kyle Bigger  I find it interesting that the OP has received 15 votes thus far and gotten all kinds of kudos and advice and hasn't even returned to the thread for one comment or acknowledgement of any of it??  

In fact, you shouldn't even acknowledge that you are aware of their position!

Proverbs 3:6 "In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight."

If anything, zillow may have contributed more harm than good with valuation, but thats another discussion.While I am sure some properties havent performed, and he would probably acknowledge not all do as planned, his company must have a number that do with as many deals that they complete.A better question may be what they do for the clients when a property doesnt perform as advertsied.

Then have him acknowledge on the same piece of paper the receipt of the money.Taxes are not the only reason to have things written and signed.