The best way around "surprise" open permits is #1 and #2 above. 

You have a beautiful family based off your profile pic and if you and your wife would like to join me and my boyfriend for a bite to eat one day, we'd happily go out to discuss real estate (he's used to me telling him I'm going to lunch with a stranger from the internet for real estate or a lunch/dinner date with realtor friends-- lol nothing surprises him anymore). 

Doesn't surprise me since banks are the #1 greedy bastards in the world.

What makes a reality show it is precisely the reality of it, when things are manufactured it takes away the real part of it.I wouldn't be surprised if that was the reason why it only lasted a few episodes.Television its made for entertainment, not a learning tool. :)

This will give you the parameters for your task at hand.Lastly, it may just come down to economics (no surprise here!).

This surprised me.

If you are expecting to share a substantial amount of work with him involving this deal don't be surprised when its all your problem. 

We were surprised to find out after having tenants in our house for two years that the rental market is booming in Richmond, VA.

I wouldn't be surprised if the majority of people who join the program never do a single deal.  

Imagine my surprise last night, when the REIA meeting had both genders, wasn't really a local REIA meeting and instead was a MLM meeting.