@Michelle Addison Yes, the $20k went to the zoning attorney and the architect.The zoning attorney it's a must for anything zoning related in Boston.Best of luck with your Florida deal.

Over the course of the ensuing six months, I work through the very challenging short sale process,  massive amounts of paperwork and the engagement of attorneys, banks, negotiators, etc...During this entire time, this incredibly dishonest and deceitful buyer is limping along through the process, making counteroffers at the very last moment, ghosting for long periods of time and generally displaying a total lack of understanding any part of the transaction. 

It is written by attorneys and includes the law, not just opinion.

The trustee/attorney that did the foreclosure is the one holding any funds.

We also had a short deadline for closing and going thru the process of a new LLC paperwork and potentially chatting with an attorney would require extra time (that we didn't have).

These two have been all-stars for me since beginning this journey a couple of years ago...Realtor: Alison Simon, Keller-Williams Philly (https://alisonsimon.kw.com/)Attorney: Alan Nochumson, P.C.

Where I invest there is also an attorney approval contingency, so sometimes as long as I can get into the property the next day I can make a sight unseen offer even with no engineers inspection contingency, get it accepted and then do my walk through the next day. 

A self-directed IRA is not a means for you to get your hands on the IRA money for your own purposes - though I have been to some guru seminars that want to make it sound that way (while hiding behind "I'm not a tax attorney" disclosures).What a self-directed IRA can do is allow you to take self-directed retirement savings and invest in alternative assets, potentially in a situation where you have much more control and knowledge than with just sending money off to Wall St. 

Call your attorney or closing company.

(His wife is an attorney.