The standard OK contract is good because it covers a lot of situations, and if a seller has bought or sold a house recently they'll be able to recognize it.

.); and, even if CA common law recognizes Promissory Estoppel - it all still comes back to - how much are you willing to spend to get that $1k back.There are 2 legal requirements to "win" a lawsuit, and there is another purely practical requirement to "win" a lawsuit:1) Legal Requirement - someone performed, or failed to perform, an act - and the performance, or failure to perform, such act allows you to sue that person;2) Legal Requirement - The act, or failure to act, caused you damages that can be compensated; and,3) Practical Requirement - the defendant actually has the means to pay the judgement, and taking into account the cost to get the judgment and collect the judgment, the amount of the judgment is worth the expense....You will have 1 & 2 if the seller cannot deliver marketable title, but you will not have 3.

Separate question, what about the fact that wells would only recognize the salary from my 9-5 and not my total taxable income from the tax return?

If you bring a name in that she recognizes, she flags it for you (our secretary also knows alias names).

However, may sure you recognize the point where you need to say "I'm as ready as I'll ever be.

All the responses above have done a good job of setting those expectations, so thank you to everyone.And yes, I do recognize the irony of my asking what "average" rehab costs are in the area -- I"m typically the one who likes to tell people here that there are no averages. 

I think a lot of people are recognizing the opportunity to sell, but it's just not enough inventory to keep up with demand.

I have to be smart enough to recognize the difference.  

A whole slew of rules revolve around this type of "income" but you may be able to defer recognizing it until liquidation of the property.

Investors do not need to be financial planners or familiar with health matters, they simply need to recognize the signs when to include specialists.