Unless it's a smoking hot deal or a good rental is hard to find, I'd never want to rent from someone who meddles in my personal affairs that much.  

If you had spent a dozen years in property management, and are now looking to buy, I might invest with you.If you had wealthy family friends and hooked up with a very experienced operator, I might invest with you.If you had educated yourself and happened upon the killer deal, I might invest with you.If you are scrambling in the dark with no experience or capital, why would I invest with you? 

All that surrounds him in the empty dining room where he has eaten lunch and dinner for the past 55 years are old photographs on the dark wood-paneled walls.

it's supposed to be refundable at closing but unclear if that's going to happen, I thought they would just let me know they don't want to do the loan instead of keeping me in the dark, I will send an email and figure out next steps, thank you for your input!

Check those smoke alarm batteries, clean the filter in the AC, and check all the windows to make sure you are getting a good seal....

This person has told me they smoke meth and is paranoid that his car is going to get stolen and all the neighbors "watch him". 

This person has told me they smoke meth and is paranoid that his car is going to get stolen and all the neighbors "watch him".

Dark, shiny floors are old hat these days.

Lack of gfci outlets where needed and other safety issues like missing smoke/carbon monoxide detectors. 

Management is usually not as intensive as say multifamily but still has work so need to make sure you are getting extra yield for return over a single tenant NNN property that is investment grade.The amount of work with a retail center depends on the tenant mix of national, to regional, to mom and pop tenants.As far a tenant going dark you the landlord will then have to entice another tenant to lease the space and everything is negotiable as to lease structure, landlord TI's, leasing commissions, etc.