My attorney used a form that closely followed the Realtor form, and covered the key contingencies like inspection, financing, and the seller delivering clean title.Hope that helps,- Tom

Contract likely not official until short sale approval from lender comes in.Make sure property is delivered vacant (free of owner) at closing or don't close.

Through it all, there are a few key points I've come to believe: everything exists for me as a possibility (and I mean... everything) and if you can dream it, the mind can help you accomplish it.

Clearly this is a scam..don't send any money..this sounds to me like the rental scam where the "owner" claims to be out of country on business and then ask the potential renter to send deposit money and then the out of country owner will fed ex keys.

If we do need to honor the lease by law, is cash for key our best bet?

The roi mentioned might be nice, but isn't likely long term, because the seller is leaving off a couple of key items - maintenance (beyond mowing the lawn), and vacancy.

I asked for keys, the title company didn't have them.

Lane Ewert Once you have plans, one suggestion might be for you to get bids from some GCs that would deliver a "shell" to you, getting all the work on the lot done and hooked up, slab and drive way installed, framing, plumbing and electrcal in, siding on house and roof.

It will be delivered with a tenant in place (that I will help qualify) and the other side rent ready.

In a short sale if you are missing a few key pieces the whole transaction falls apart or you start over and lose the buyer to frustration with the process.