How to avoid BEFORE this happens: pay a day early, don't raise issues, get loans that aren't backed by US Government that the note states they don't sell the servicing.How to avoid the late payment- pay all accounts from the same bank account on the same day of the month.

Ultimately you can only hold it down so far and the government will eventually get their money. 

The local/ state etc (governing body) may not just "give you" one.

Every $1 I make in cash flow, the government will take 35¢-40¢ today.

While likely more expensive than Cleveland or Toledo, Columbus has a more diverse and robust economy, driven by government, education (Ohio State University), and healthcare.

It seems like there was a lot of hype at the government level but owner/occupied demand hasn't been what they thought it would be.

They are buying NNN single tenant or NNN multitenant retail properties in TX, OK, SC, NC, GA, FL, AL, TN - the states to which the population is migrating and that have business/real estate friendly governments and lower taxes. 

In Minneapolis, are there programs in place from non profits and the government to aid first time home buyers with costs?

Something to watch if you are mindful of the government being over-involved in nearly every single LLC registration.

One other market-wide factor I’d throw in is local government policies.