It might knock some of the excess numbers down too.

they may sue and go through the first stages of filing and depos and orders to compel and all that.. but when reality sets in about how much an actual trial is going to cost that's when they usually have a come to Jesus moment and either settle or go for binding arb.  

Leisure in boom times consumers tend to have lots of excess cash so will splurge on the larger trips out of state or out of the country even.In an economic downturn the opposite tends to hold true.

Where else can you find an investment where someone else is willing to take on 80% of the risk, and have that risk over 30 years and give me a chance to keep any money in excess AND keep the property's appreciation?

Without more info about what exactly you are trying to accomplish or what specifically this mentor can do for you, $5k is most likely too much to pay at this stage of the market cycle.Learning how to do the math to calculate (70% minus repairs) your MAO is completely detached from and not relevant to actually being able to convince a seller to sell for 60%ish of market value.  

If a lender is making mistakes at this stage (aka, not showing all their fees) that might be a good indication of things to come.  

I am currently reading every book I can and am just at the beginning stages of this, but I do know that I want to turn it into a full time career for myself. 

Even if my entire analysis were wrong (it’s not, I’m just playing out the worst-case-scenario for the excessively cautious), the very worst thing that could happen is that the property would revert back to your name.

Even if my entire analysis were wrong (it’s not, I’m just playing out the worst-case-scenario for the excessively cautious), the very worst thing that could happen is that the property would revert back to your name.

Is it properly staged and marketed with bright and appealing pictures?