Actually lawyers and accountants??

He alerted me to a mechanic's lien on the property for $25,000 (5 times the tax value), which gave me several days panic until a lawyer friend explained that these liens expire after one year unless a separate suit is filed to enforce the lien. 

I’d think you need a lawyer for the real answer but I can give advice on how to prevent this in the future.Did you have a lawyer create a custom lease for you or did you find one online?

Our RE lawyer no longer operates his private practice and we are looking for some recommendations in the Phx/Scottsdale area.

Hire a lawyer and stop talking to non-paying, evicted tenants.  

I’m impatiently waiting to hear from my lawyer but wanted to put it out to you.  

I'd recommend reaching out to your lawyer for advice, or the Montana Landlord Association, https://montanalandlords.com/.

So, you would need to ask a real estate lawyer in your state.

I would rather have a lawyer review 

With the assistance of a real estate agent or lawyer, submit an offer, work out the conditions, arrange for inspections, and finish your due diligence before finalizing the purchase.Note that investing in real estate is a journey that requires perseverance, patience, and flexibility.