bg,
That is the way you handle things but people who want something special in tight markets have no choice other than sitting out if they want something special.

As for your advice, it is full of more holes than swiss cheese.

Short sales are not a waste of time and having done several dozen I can provide concrete proof (i.e. copies of FICO scores before and after) that when done properly they can be much better for the seller’s credit as well as negotiating away recourse on loans with recourse.

You commitment letter for more than the purchase price damages the buyers position in many cases. Even though they may not be willing to pay more they are perceived as able to pay more by the seller and that doesnt help them.

Your whole we WALKED diatribe is utter nonsense. You are representing a buyers best interest and walking when a screen door hasnt been repaired isnt always in their best interest. Your job as an agent is to bring two parties together to a mutually acceptable solution not to create an adverserial relationship or to express your own wants/needs in front of your clients.

I stopped reading because it is clear why you no longer are in this business. You werent made for it.