Don't get all caught up in one deal and lose sight of other good deals due to tunnel vision.5. 

I spoke with a CPA and was told that I would lose 40% in tax and penalties.

Tell your roomy that you can lose your lock in on any interest rate, that such is a real financial loss, being a CPA she should realize she needs to act or become responsible.....if you'd take it that far.

Now, we did lose 10 days trying to get $50/mo more than what we got for it last year since comps said we could, but those comps were from just a month or two before and that made all the difference.I was thinking that since these were SFRs, and school starts end of August, anyone that wanted to move that needed a SFR with 3 beds and 2 baths already did.

It's not always possible to guess the trajectory of a neighborhood, but try to stay away from areas that seem to be losing population or getting rougher.

Just like a marriage, the guy has to realize he is going to lose if she holds her ground and HAS TO HAVE her way.     

If you do lose a little write it off as education.

I send the contractor in with my initial Scope of Work statement, from my walk-through, estimate those costs and tell me if there is anything else that will have to be done & those costs.If the estimates come back outside my contingency, I can try to renegotiate the price, based upon those expert findings, or I can terminate the contract, only losing the small option fee, which was non-refundable.Since you took snarky in stride...here's a look at how I break down the house on the initial walk-through...

he lays out for lawyer, court costs, loses the property,.....how much is the lost time worth?...

He can lose his ability to bid on HUD homes.