There's a domain I've been watching for quite some time. It's nothing very special to anyone else, but rather something very special to me, and the current owner doesn't do anything with it but park it at non-existant nameservers.

It expires tomorrow, and I don't think he plans on instantly renewing it.

According to the WHOIS, it expires around 10:30 AM tomorrow. However, it states 10:30:32, which is of course the time. Is that GMT?

Also, once it's about a minute past the expiry date, can I simply log into my registrar account and purchase it? Or is there some waiting fee?

I'm not much of a domain specialist, so I'm hoping one of you guys know.

No you won't be able to do that. Once a domain expires, it goes into a cycle of different periods in which the owner would still have chance to renew it. At the end of these periods, the domain MAY then be deleted and available for re-registration. Then only can you register.

If I were you, I'd contact the current owner and see if you can get it transferred over to your end before it expires. Although you can wait until it's deleted, ICANN-accredited registrars do get first pick at deleted domains and it's possible they might register it before you get a chance. You could wait until it's deleted, but it might be risky.

Trouble is, as soon as he knows you want to buy it, he'll spend the $6.99 to renew it and then sell it to you for $100!

If you're sure no one else would want it you could attempt to backorder it. I believe the more popular backorder sites get first pick at them before they get deleted?

You might want to read this thread (http://www.webhostingtalk.com/showthread.php?t=477474) by my friend Stu to be at least little more informed what you'll need to do next.

Good luck!

Good advice Stan :) Where is it registered?