Ben summed it up, numbers don't mean anything in reality, except ensuring that your horse isn't eating all the hay before you buy him.

Every probate office I've gone to except one had no idea what I wanted to do and didn't know what to tell me.  

Most of the time HUD prices their homes pretty in line with the market but there are the exceptions.  

I have heard of a few exceptions with large capital reserves.  

Actually, I found everything except his e-mail!

PREPAYMENT: Buyer will have the right to prepay without penalty except __________________________________.

We put water,sewer,and trash into the lease to make sure it is paid and not under the tenants control.So we will have base rent plus these utilities listed in the rent for a total rent price.Fulton county is one of the few counties in Georgia where a water lien SURVIVES foreclosure.No way to get rid of it except through the local council person with legislation or negotiating a payoff of the lien.With our apartment units the benefit is we get the bill so we can moniter water usage.If the bill is really large you can use a water leak adjustment form with the Fulton county water authority.Depending on the age of your property pay special attention to leaky faucets and old toilets leaking at the wax seal,the return line,and or the tank into the bowl.If you have plumbing leaks anywhere it will drive the water bill up.If you have an outside water spigot get it capped off or removed.Tenants are notorious for using water outside and driving the bill up.You better get a hold of this lien issue now or it will get worse.

I don't even work with agents, with the exception of a recent pocket listing I picked up.

It can be anybody except a party to the lawsuit.

The only exception would be if you rented by the room rather than the entire unit that might slightly raise your liability however that is a question for your insurance agent.