Are these real estate agents giving us the run-around?

HOA are set and are not Let's Make a Deal type of things.

If you feel your agent is not treating you right go get a different one. Have them do the research to see what other units in the building/area are going for.

Real Estate differs considerably from one area to the next. You should always have a real estate agent by your side, and before sending an offer for a property you like, have him do a comparative market analysis in the immediate area. Try not going back more than a couple of months when comparing to sold properties. Even then, make sure you put a "subject to appraisal" contingency in your offer.

"Seems high for the area, considering the economy, and the house market" as you say, is not a very smart analysis of the true market value for that property.

The real estate process is fairly easy to navigate.

1. You may offer whatever price you deem the property to be worth, as a formal writen offer.

2. the owner can accept, counter offer, or not respond.

Rarely is a botom price a seller will accept given prior to an offer.

Your agent should be doing comparative sales analysis to help you determine what the market value of the property is. If they arent, then get a new agent.

What you think and what the owner thinks is the value is irrelevant. What matters is what the current market thinks is the correct price

Don't know what part of La. its in , but there are some really bad areas there.

I wouldn't pay closing costs, but that's me.

I would never ever belong to a H.O.A. either.

Don't want anyone telling me what I can do with my property.

I wouldn't move to La. if they gave me the 400K.

But that's me again.

You should always have a real estate agent who is representing only you.