If you walked the unit ahead of time you likely knew he was a smoker if he was there seven years and you've owned the place for two.

Should I just walk away, or is there something here?

Get ARMED with information and under no circumstances, get into an argument or verbal-shouting match (I know it's tempting) with them as they can become emotional and you have to walk a very DELICATE line when dealing with problem tenants like this.I'm NOT providing legal advice: but if you have a lease (contract law) and they are in default, it doesn't take a genius to decipher who is in the wrong.

I'm going to get a walk through with my contractor to confirm my estimates are correct and a time line to remedy the issues.

If you've seen my face, shook my hand, seen my office, looked me up online, and can easily alter my credibility as a wholesaler in this industry with a simple click or post on any social media platform- chances are, I'm not going to put you into a bad deal or keep your earnest money, or walk away from closing or anything that could disrupt that status if I am insisting that you meet me at my office.

I didnt have anyone walk through the place before having the inspection done ($936).

My wife has been fairly skeptical of real estate for a while (because she is completely risk averse), but I just walked her through this particular flip and she saw the potential.

When we closed the deal, the original home owner told me that they wanted to sell us the house the moment we walked in.

@Detric MotonI like expired listings.I knock on their door.If they are not home, I put a pre-prepared yellow stick note like this one.If they answer, I ask them if their home is still for sale, If they say it is, I make an appointment to walk-through.I give them a cash offer (if wholesaling) or a sub2 or a lease purchase offer(s) (if in good condition).Good luck!

if i were you, i would take a sample and have it tested just to have it tested. if it is mold, there are 18 different species of black mold and only 2 are toxic. that advice is coming from a licensed home inspector with a mold certificate. if it is black mold and is toxic, then you can remove it yourself, but protect yourself too. make it part of your offer. if the seller doesn't want to accept your offer based on the mold, then walk away. if you do not want the place because of the mold issues, would someone else want it?