How was the market valuation done on Eric's house when he sold it to you?
Something like 10 comps in the area, plus had an appraiser come in. I know Eric got fair market value, I live 2 doors down from him(in the exact same model)and did a refi just a couple of months before his and was appraised about the same as his.(mine has more upgrades yet came in a smidge lower)
FWIW, with the upgrades on my house(again same model as Eric's) my house is worth 340K. I know this because I am adding a pool and going to refi again.*
* Edit I didn't mean this to sound like pride. I am trying to demonstrate that the market has indeed gone mad. We paid $165,000.00 in 2001 and the house has more than doubled since then.