Any other gifts are pushing the line on friendship.

There is a break in it, with tree roots inside.It has become apparent the previous owner knew about it and did not disclose it and is now lying about it. 

You will for sure need to have you game on all the time but I'll be pushing for you and your family. 

If there is a turnover always push for higher rent.

It is the moment that you learn to push through the resistance that builds strength, muscle, and heart.  

I have had some formal training in money markets and one thing they pushed was protecting your capital with risk management.

I would worry a as buyer that tree would have roots under the house and the foundation might be an issue down the road.

My dilemma is that I havent fixed on a strategy yet and am between pushing my budget to the 250-300 area and buying something that will hopefully appreciate (which based on my perception of Birmingham macro economics isn't sustainable) vs buying something more on the 100-150 range that I can perhaps rent out later on down the line when I become more comfortable with the market and / or there is a correction and prices come down, thus allowing me to move into something larger... any insight into the local view on the Birmingham market would be appreciated.Thank you

From there it is up to you to keep pushing forward and making contacts in your new career to advance your own dream.At the end of the day you can relate this seminar business to a new gym membership.

Since you are already involved in a court case and have a hearing date in December, I would push it to the wall and see what happens on that date.If you win, it probably is not collectible but at least you know you were right.