First off, @Kyle Curtin, I’d say you’re a step ahead of most by using good judgement meeting potential lenders face-to-face at local real estate clubs.

You have all the right to be concened about the violations, but I think you're out of line and being extremely judgemental assuming what programs they may or may not be on.

It may wipe out lien that are junior to that property, but not to him personally if they are judgements against him or have his personal guarantee.

You need to take him to court and get a judgement against him.

Does obtaining a judgement help me in any meaningful way?

But if I hear you correctly, you are saying if all things are done correctly all liens and judgements should be wiped out from the sherriff sale if they are junior to the senior lien?

they all come out differently because each profession does it differently and it is something of a judgement call.

The back rent would almost certainly result in a judgement.

I did expense legal, accounting fees during the period as I own other rentals, even though some of the expenses were incurred for the new property.One other reason for using a CPA is you can defer to his professional judgement and if the IRS gets after you, you can point to your CPA.

Perhaps not a common practice but there were my eyes and ears and I trusted their judgement to handle and manage accordingly.