well it wasn't really a 40K discount if that transaction didn't require real estate agents, it might have actaully netted them more money.

but your case is extremely rare. most people are bidding on the open market and don't have that kind of luck. I've also been very lucky with renting, buying, and renting out my bedroom of the place i owned. but most people aren't as lucky or as shrewd as i am.

There are bad people all around. Bad landlords, bad sellers, bad owners, bad renters, and there are criminal ones as well.

But the truth is most people are somewhere in the middle, they will have some good and bad experiences, some good and bad luck.