[Rick Lee]

Jeff, I can't wait until you get a house, have been in it a few years and then to read your stories about trying to sell it.

The one I just dropped off an earnest money check on the other day is a short sale for about half of what it last sold for in 2005, but before they added a pool for $50k. It's one of the nicest houses I've seen and we've probably toured 50 since April. Oh, and we're getting 3% toward closing costs. I can't see how this can be a bad deal. We might not make a ton selling it in less than five years. But the mortgage payment (after tax write offs) will be about what we're paying in rent now and for a way, way nicer house. I'd rather pay my own mortgage than the landlord's. The place we're renting now is older than the one we're buying and it hasn't had any maint. problems at all.