What a grand way to start 2016. 

The markets I heard most about was Memphis and Little Rock (obviously b/c I was invited to present and those are the markets I represent), Columbus, Ohio, Chicago, IL and Indianapolis, Indiana and some guy doing land contracts in Grand Rapids, MI that I could not figure out.  

My great grand father left it to his 8 children in 1926.  

I just looked it up and the past owners (the one that redeemed) gave him the property under a QCD for no monies and at the end of it it says from Grandfather to grand son.

You may consider investing long-term buy and hold in Dallas or other surrounding counties like Mesquite, Grand Prairie, or Garland where there are older homes that are more reasonably priced.

If you really want to sell, take a much smaller profit and move on to a better situated property for you and your family.Even if you win and force the HVAC guy to utilize another driveway, you're going to resent having to live next to the company that ruined your grand plan. 

Wise folks say a good next step is to introduce myself here, so here I am, and here is a bit about me and my grand plans

We got to experience the grand opening of Volcano Bay, the new Universal Orlando water theme park.  

Thats $240/year, in my 27 year lifespan, granted it's mostly been my parents saving, but that's a grand total of $6,480!

Let the agent build in a few grand into the purchase price so they get a small commission out of it.Use great professionals and pay them for their work.