As college gets more expensive, this is going to become a bigger problem.Honestly I don't think there is a good solution, but here is what I am going to offer my kids.

Work on numbers to offer price and resell price ( ARV ) etc.

Hard to offer any advice.

According to Zillow, price was $16,900 on April 2010, then $13,900 in June, $9,900 in August and now $7,500 in November.I will try to offer only $5k for it but I have a bad conscience about this :).

Arent those supposed to be investigated prior to offering the property for sale?

These types of relationships grow over time when both parties feel like they have something to offer the other (yes, the person being mentored should also be giving back to the mentor).Take the mentoring relationship slowly...in the meantime, figure out what the potential mentor has to offer (and if it's what you need), his "teaching" style (and if it works for you), and what you have to give back.

I plan to offer on an reo sfd that is being auctioned.

I'm not sure what I can afford to offer without knowing how much I could spend trying to get the other lots together so can anyone give me some advice as to how I can research this?

normaly you will have to will have to offer 80% -of asking price of the LISTING price to get the bank to look at you.

You and the new owner could negotiate and come to some new agreementWhen your lease ends, the new owner would be able to offer you a new lease.Your security deposit should be transferred from the old owner to the new one.