Example:  Cheapest comp: $10,000Target Sale Price (half of cheapest comp): $5,000 Target Purchase Price (half of cheapest comp): $2,500Make sure you intentionally leave money on the table.  

Of course this is judging their intentions and maybe they were less thief and more visionary.

My main goal is purchasing buy and hold property with the intent of a passive income stream growing and growing.  

What if he violated Fair Housing laws when renting it out (maybe not even intentionally but because he didn't know any better)? 

Typically you can take an amount equal to the earnest money as liquidated damages, pursue specific damages, or sue for performance.I doubt fraud (FBI style) would get much traction, because it doesn't sound the like the intent to deceive is there.  

If you had the intent and ability to buy under an option, and you're not in the business of taking options, you can usually slide by without any issues as to a license. 

Nationwide seems intent on raising my premium -- which will be applied retroactively -- without the courtesy of disclosing what these special features are.

The company, Nationwide, is intent on raising my premium and charging me retroactively for the three months of insurance I've had so far.

This just takes you into an arena full of scammers that are being cracked down on, you may have great intentions, but if you fail or clog the process or don't perform it will be easy to get tagged as a scammer and suffer the consequences.I know what gets said in these situations, I've been on both sides as a lender and buyer many times over the years. :) Here is the route to be an approved : http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?

The only way would be an owner occupied loan and if your intention is to flip it then it would be considered mortgage fraud.