I live on a poverty-level income and had to move when the rental I had been living in was short-saled on the brink of foreclosure.I had to move in a hurry and this was the only place I could afford to move into on short notice.Perhaps you assume that everyone has a stockpile of cash ready to tap for situations like this.And Tom was renting to Joe an illegal basement so Tom was at fault for illegally renting to the perp, and hiw gains from Joe are tainted.Now we seem to have worked out a resolution where I'm continuing to pay the rent on time like clockwork but I'm no longer paying the utilities, all of which are in Tom's name.

Don’t have any MREs or a big stockpile of food.If deflation hits my cash will grow in value and my real estate and stocks will sink.

I’ve heard a few stories of people developing lots only to find out all the vegetation from nearby developments had been stockpiles or muck.

- well done @Keenan Fitzpatrick @Jeremy Tompkins @Connor Dunham - Chris - I'd add - having a little time should allow you to start getting some discounts on the materials you want to stockpile and have on hand for the renovations - if you want to DM me I have some coupon connections that can help you save $$! 

If so, I would get the cheaper house assuming its not an hour from work and stockpile the extra cash for the next deal.

Once he has stock piled enough of your payments to equal a down payment ( lets say 10% as we can do that at my lender) then you can use that as your down payment to the lender. now when it comes to closing cost that's another story, either he can give you seller concessions or save up more in the escrow, or on your end to cover those. the key thing is he has to keep your payments in an escrow . another option is he lowers the price per payment he receives but that means you still have to come up with a down payment on your end to the new lowered price. hope this helps.

Your best bet might be to stockpile the special pays you'll receive while in Bahrain and as much of your regular pay as you can so that when you get back you have some capital to work with. 

Wondering about their exit strategy, they seem to just be stockpiling properties.

Just a thought for you Doomsday Guys:If it really goes down, the things of value you are stockpiling had better be portable.

I have an emergency stockpile of food and water (as Homeland Security recommends) and have never needed it.