Please correct me if I am wrong of if there is a better alternative (e.g. leaving the property in my name until the loan is paid off)I don’t get how this mixed bag plays out?

Did you just let the cat out of the bag on the engagement?

I was bagging Groceries for 1.65 an hour...

They both agree that it cannot be fixed now without bringing in some bags of sand and cement into the house.

They probably billed you in the hope you would just pay the outstanding balance.I've pushed back when a tenant vacates and leaves the electric company holding the bag for unpaid electric.

Would they be the ones left holding the bag?

She went ballistic, saying it wasn't her fault and that although she does keep boxes of cereal and bags of rice in the lower kitchen cabinets and on the floor, that couldn't be the problem.

If the deal doesn't close for some reason, then the seller will be left holding the bag for a vacant unit.If you are concerned about the dog, the best bet is to wait until you actually own the duplex, then give him appropriate notice that you are terminating his month-to-month tenancy. 

I'll ride a bicycle before I ever have a stupid car payment again.Brew your own coffee and brown bag your lunch.

There was about 50 sqft of rotted sheathing that had to be replaced and some of it was so bad that it had decomposed in the wall and was basically like someone dumped bags of topsoil in the wall.