“In doing so, this buyer may be leaving $20k on the table, and they may be sitting in that unit for several years before they break even again, but at least they’re in and stable. It might save a marriage or two. ”

being underwater and in financial stress usually destroys marriages.

i’ve been renting for 3 years with my GF, far better to be paying cheap rent then a expensive mortgage,
and we went and built a raised bed garden in the backyard.