Discussion:Start-up costs or bummed out client

My question is more of a confirmation. I have a client who is coming to see me on Sunday to make the October 15 deadline. He just tells me that he spent ~$21,000 in 2007 on a popular real estate program(name whitheld) that he saw on one of those late-night infomercials. He started his "expenses" in August of 2007 and is just about to sell his first house in 2008 and make a profit of ~$15,000. His cash outlays included cost of classes/seminars, travel, postage, office, etc. He is a little anxious for me to recoup as much of his $21K as possible but I told him I would do the best I could, knowing that a "$5,000 start-up costs" election would probably be the best-case scenario. His full-time job is as a Senior Engineer. Am I pretty much correct with the Start-up Costs Election or is that even stretching it?

Thank you for any input!