Anyone familiar with real estate law ?

If your intent is to lock the guy up in a dead deal out of spite, don't bother..

definitely not

i am trying to get a read on him, and figure out where are with the negotiations

i understand he has a number in mind and selling this property is probably not his end goal
for me, getting it isnt my end goal

so i understand we each have other plans and this property is simply a step along the way

what i dont like, is to be jerked around
so, i just want to know if he is blowing smoke (with his talk about other offers) or if hes trying work out a deal with someone else while still on the table with me