I’d recommend starting with business credit cards that only require a soft inquiry, so you don’t risk a denial from one bank that could influence the others.

It's a matrix where you'll want to find something that is on the spectrum that is in alignment with your risk tolerance and understanding. 

If the property was involved in a bk it was put into an estate for the entity who filed.

This is often easier in lower tier markets where the appraisals are not indicative of how the property would sell in an arms length transaction.The other risk you run is over extension.

If you have it in emails etc. you could have a position - but as another poster mentioned, giving up $100 a month in rent to only paint two rooms is very very generous so I can see how they thought there would be more rooms involved.

Not sure the final outcome, but I'm guessing that is a case where you think things are risk free, but I expect the purchaser was out significant legal fees that were not reimbursed and ended up not getting the property.I've always thought about this in the rare instance that a super nice and super valuable property goes to sale with a mortgage on it. 

They are still a risk, and I would not rent to them.

If you go directly to the seller as the buyer, you run the risk of being stigmatized.

I'm doing more research because I do not understand how the SEC or Licensing bureaus are also not involved.

The exact amount of rent on Jan 1 will depend on whether your notice of the increase was handled according to the lease or not, but you may not want to risk providing her with angles to fight you in court just over a few dollars.