Super fun exercise...

You are welcome - hope those words and concepts had value to your investing exercise - Thank you so much for the vote - I always feel great when others here on Bigger Pockets garner something from my responses (been working on answers now for 48 years).Some of the ideas sound way out there  but you never until you ask - the good thing is knowing the questions to ask and how to execute them in writing on a contract offer.I remember not long ago - my son and me looked at a property - we really didn't like the equity position so we asked the seller if we made an offer would they give of us $7,000 - the seller thought about it for about a minute - and wrote a check for $7,000.We closed the deal and assigned it almost immediately for a nice assignment profit - oh - we kept the $7,000 (it paid for the trip) you just never know the degree of motivation that sellers have until you probe.I feel it is important to take your time when negotiating - don't try to solve their problem too quickly, make an appointment to meet again - and always counsel (that is ask many questions) and get the seller to invest in the negotiation - ask to see the deed - the settlement papers and maybe their title insurance policy. 

what ever you do make sure to do your due diligence and verify every dollar, stipulate the terms (years) of the Lease if your going to have any of the option money go toward the  principle amount, the amount of intrest you will pay him suggestion 5% make sure you have a couple of exit stratigies like contingent on if it passes the inspection when it's time to exercise your option .hope this helps Robin

However, the taxpayer must be exercising independent judgment and not simply ratifying decisions made by a manager.

I want to know how to turn that mindset around to a "alright, I'll think about it" result or better.It will be an interesting exercise, for sure. 

Generally speaking, it is always a good idea to exercise "due diligence" in investigating these kinds of business interactions.

A tenant is still a tenant UNTIL they exercise the right to purchase AND then close. 

Odds are the tenants won't exercise the option and then you'll end up with a higher mortgage to support at the same rental rate.

A good exercise for me though as I evaluated the opportunity.

The tenant has 2 years left on their inital lease and have not exercised any of their 5 year options mentioned above.