However, remember that the “official” inflation numbers do not include energy or food.

World class city, architecture, food , entertainment, nightlife and the Cubs!

But if that's what they owe then a short sale would be required to allow you to buy it at a more reasonable price.Talk to the city or county (probably county) about assembling two parcels into one. 

Bit of an unusual one, two homes on one two acre parcel that cant be split.  

Call title companies and ask what fees are customary and who pays them, that will be different from one area to another, need to know local customs.Some (many) Realtors won't deal with cheap houses, if they do they may charge 10% on the sale price instead of the customary 6%, getting 6% and splitting that between two Realtors, buying and listing, on a 30K sale won't make a car payments and buy food after taxes

Or buy storable food, guns and ammo if that's truly what you're worried about.

Again, a grocery store may be easily converted into a retail department store type thing, but a grocery store going into a building that simply has open space can be very costly due to plumbing and food storage equipment.

He could pay for all of your living expenses, clothes, food etc without ever worrying about "gifting".Basically he can pay for anything he wants and only gets dinged when he moves large sums that show up on a bank statement and needs to be explained.This allows you to keep your w2 income for the property purchase.

Yet, at the one end of the mall, they knocked down one of the former anchor store's building and put in a large new supermarket and a large Menards store, along with some other small strip malls, fast food joints, etc. so there is some hope for the future over there.The condos can sure be cash flow machines as Dawn is laying out for everyone here, that's quite a nice return there!

How many other parcels will they need to assemble for the success of this project total??