I'm starting to wonder better ways to outsource this work and find solid tenants who will stay for the long haul. 

Contact a local civil engineering firm , they know all the players .

Then you can be in it for the long haul when the area becomes more developed and the market starts to mature.

I firmly believe in education.

John and or the marketing firm made promises of wealth to people who purchased his program of buying tax auctioned properties at 10c on the dollar.  

"we are fair and firm" "we issue one warning" "we follow the lease to the t" etc..

I work for a medium sized firm in California.

@Max Tanenbaum - there are lots of companies (usually law firms) that specialize in tax appeals; they take a percentage of the first year's savings as payment, so you don't have much to lose by using one of them UNLESS the appeal results in a higher tax.

I will definitely get a second opinion maybe consult another broker on your firm.

My agent is from a reputable firm (KW).