After saving 54 properties to my favorites it came time to widdle that down to the contenders when it came time to take the trip down to see these properties.

I contend two things: 1) the transaction is 'out-of market', and 2) the system (state law and deed-of-trust power of sale) is uniform, effective, and efficient.

@Dawn  I contend that over the long haul (e.g. 15 years) the 50% rule is pretty accurate.

The finance contingency restriction could mean the property is not financeable and it can also mean, they do not want to contend with trying to inflate the price above what a lender would allow for title seasoning.It smells like they are not owners and are trying to sandwich themselves in the middle.

So, there's that to contend with.  :-)

Steven J.If you are saying you are planning on getting directly involved, as in a lonnie deal, there's Safe Act issues now to contend with.

The traffic is too much to contend with for a 0 return.

For now the two main contenders are Union Savings Bank and Quicken Loans.

I also want a healthy maintenance budget since a tenant will get in there and there will no doubt be (hopefully) small items to contend with... 

It would be a very hard thing to defend in audit- that being said even if it DID qualify it for service the other consideration is that there are still other expense v. capitalize issues to contend with.