Hope all is well with you and yours. 
For how much I've heard about Deal Machine, what I wasn't anticipated how much some home owners would lash back!  One thing I noticed is that they were typically older, but who i...

Honestly, I still feel insecure financially because I dont have a support system and I'm quite risk adverse by nature.

If you are risk adverse real estate, (especially out of state) is not for you.

It should not adversely affect your credit score, but it might.

This is also a strategy if you are more risk adverse but it's going to be dependent on your goals. 

The actual quote:(9) "Material fact" means information that substantially adversely affects the value of the property or a party's ability to perform its obligations in a real estate transaction, or operates to materially impair or defeat the purpose of the transaction.

look up adverse possesion.  

One suggestion I give new investors is don't be adverse to just buying a rent ready property, financing it and then renting it. 

Your neighbor may have been trying to make the case that he was "maintaining" the trees in hope of getting some type of adverse possession. 

If you are risk adverse real estate, (especially out of state) is not for you.