@Tracy Stanley obviously your landlord does not want you there anymore and is playing hard ball.

Then it's awkward, and they'll probably get a cat, maybe the next is a dog, the ball of stress will start rolling...  

We’ll again get the ball rolling by house hacking and living in one unit of a multi.

Though no one has a crystal ball, it appears that the demographics and other factors are pointing toward a massive demand that will not soon be filled.  80 million Millennials plus 76M Boomers, many who are starting to rent again.

I just feel really bummed out that I have to sit on the sideline until next June until I can "play ball" again.Taking care of home base is important, I just don't think our situation has to be "perfect" to start engaging in deals again.

There was no way they are going to accept this crazy low ball number, but we offered.  

The awesome attorneys realize what is important and point that out to their clients but keep the ball moving to the goal line.I find litigation attorneys are used to negotiating to the ultimate degree and get stuck in the minutia too much as they can't get out of (court mode).So I look for ( no litigation work, focuses on commercial transactions only, has deal experience in asset class type and deal size we are doing, reasonable with fees and understanding clients goals to keep costs low, team player and not full of themselves ( a heart to serve ).When I find these things it tends to be a positive experience.

My son and I (partners) made a verbal low ball offer significantly below the $60k asking price with $10k cash earnest money.

These tenants want to play hard ball like this, I'd hold that over their heads.Move out or you'll never see a penny.Then evict them and sue for damages as if they never paid a deposit.

My Australia properties are managed by a property management company, the tenant quality is completely different when your properties are worth $300k compared to $60KThou it sounds golden, I'm constantly in battle with one tenant who always pays late, I had to do one eviction this year, had a tenant walk out of her property so she didn't have to pay rent.