You need to review the leases and see if Aaron's for that location has to disclose annual audited sales numbers.

The thing that may be new, at least I didn't see it as I scanned this thread, is that they 'audit' your use of the the service periodically. 

This is not illegal, because those fees are technically available in the state from some hypothetical settlement services provider that you could hypothetically use (if you were hypothetically an idiot).And you see a nice sexy bottom line number that you find appealing, and pick your lender based in part on "lowest fees," as you did.Then, a week or two into escrow, the lender "discovers" the actual title/escrow fees (they naturally don't even bother asking for them until it's too late for you to switch lenders, and the appraisal is done, etc, because they don't **want** to discover the actual fees juuust yet).Because they quoted you "real" title/escrow fees upfront, and because a full thorough audit will reveal that the lender did not "discover" the actual fees until a day or two prior to you receiving the "updated" disclosure, no law has been broken and this is a lawful practice.I personally go the other way, and quote the most expensive title/escrow fees in my market for purchase transactions.

This makes spelling out those details a requirement, not only for clarification but also for the IRS if audited.  

Everything is fine until you're audited and saving on the CPA fee isn't worth the future headaches (or so I've been told by my clients).

Oddly, until just 3 months ago, the IRS could call you to inform you that you were under audit, but a letter would always be sent subsequently.  

Great info above and an important reason to make sure that you audit all leases during your DD period.

Having said that, in an audit or IRS challenge, the decision is all going to turn on your intent at the time you purchased the property you are considering converting to your primary residence.

All of my negotiators recommend a deal after an exhaustive financial analysis and after verifying that all the requirements of a short sale are met (Like being listed with an agent, executing a 4506T, providing a hardship letter, bank statements, tax returns, Arms Length affidavit, budget, etc..) and then signing off and verifying all of the requirements are met so that when its all done, a subsequent audit from an outside entity or regulatory agent will confirm that it was done properly and NOT just because some talented negotiator thinks it should have been done.

It's worth it to me because I get to avoid filing a Schedule E which are heavily audited.