Please feel free to contact me offline to discuss what you need and I can point you in the right direction.

Sometimes those who work from home part of the week are willing to adjust their travel for a better property a little further out.I know the areas well and would be happy to guide you in the right direction.

although, engineered flooring has plywood glued together with grain running in different directions under the finish layer. 

Can I fund the unexpected capex items, and can I maintain a reasonable level of tenancy.

A successful short-sale typically benefits the borrower (homeowner) in the following ways: it can give them more time in the house (and payment-free); it is better than a foreclosure from a credit report perspective and wold allow him to obtain a new purchase loan for a new home in the future more quickly as compared to having it go through foreclosure.I would encourage you both to reach out to a local realtor with short-sale experience and have them facilitate the transaction, it would not cost you or the owner the commission as it would be paid out of the bank's proceeds.No, in a short-sale I would definitely not offer any payments to him directly that are not known and approved by the bank, you can get yourself in hot water and probably legal trouble by doing that on a short sale.

I pay my HOA separately from the rent, directly to the association.

I am looking for some advice on purchasing a house directly from an owner.

View report*This link comes directly from our calculators, based on information input by the member who posted.This is a highly sought after neighborhood in our city.

I have a question, I've been doing direct mail, postcards and spent so much money, over $10k...

Just offer to do anything that might help, door knocking, helping with direct mail, etc.