They get a a lot of negative press (which they should if they are not set up right), but if they are set up like Thomas is mentioning (for cash value), they are very powerful.  

You'd be hard pressed to be allowed to keep it even if you had something in writing since you called it a security deposit. 

One PM I was researching yesterday had a broken phone tree when people call in about leasing... when you pressed a button to hear about available rentals, it just started you back at the beginning.  ..

Now that the plumbing is fixed and we are in the clear for that, I do not think she wants to press much more than knowing exactly what she will have to do upon her lease ending.

Still working on building my bench of trades, so that I can have dependable people running the day to day operations.

You’ll be hard pressed to get the property owner to sell unless you offer them a deal they can’t refuse — especially if they are not motivated. 

This made the corner so wet that when the laminate floor was pressed on the seams water water would come through.  

I spoke to the owner of the 10 unit and he pressed me for a number and while I did not have all of his numbers and advised him of this he kept pressing.

depends on how they do the appraisal. for HELOC most appraisals are "bench top" meaning, it's a digital value assessment through comps and MAYBE someone will drive by the place.

In the low cost neighborhoods like this you'll be hard pressed to find a well organized contractor doing enough advertising that their message gets all the way out to you.