So this isn't a simple matter of making an offer on the house and the current owners saying yes or no? Waiting for them to go the rounds must be agonizing.

That's where I got lucky with this house. From the outside it was the true Ugly Ducking--it sat empty for over a year so I didn't have anyone else's interest to contend with. I interviewed the next door neighbor and then offered a low bid because he told me that two other low bids had already been rejected--and third time was the charm. I put a lot more $ in after I bought it, but the value of the house reflects my investment in it (unfortunately, so do my taxes!)

SRS