Buying a house/Building a house, have you found this deal?

Does a short sale get better than this for the buyer?

This is about a mile from where I live, it is friggin' unbelievable, but condo living isn't for me and there is that little ~ $600/month HOA fee, but I would gladly overlook that with the upside on the place. Bet her neighbors that bought when the units originally came on the market are happy about it...

"Q: What did you like?

A: It has 10-foot ceilings. It has marble in the entryway and bathroom. The light fixtures I love, the cabinets, the stain, it’s all my aesthetic. It has granite countertops and stainless steel appliances, not to mention the wine cellar, the storage unit, the fitness facility, the pool and the concierge. I have only a view of the woods. I don’t see any homes or any neighbors. It feels secluded.

Q: What did you know about the history of the unit?

A: It originally sold for $1.11 million (to an investor, according to the appraisal).

Q: What was the negotiation process like?

A: By 10 a.m., we had put in the offer. And by noon, we had it accepted. The offer they accepted was $190,000 (asking price was $195,000), and they paid $5,000 of my closing costs. So, my attempt at buying my dream home with an absolutely insane dream budget somehow came to reality.

Q: How much did you put down?

A: I had to put down $10,000 in earnest money and pull that out of savings. I put 20 percent down. All the other units that had gone into foreclosure or short sale have required full cash purchases."