Nothing except growing some character would have helped them.Another month goes by and then they want to break their lease and live the last month on their security deposit. 

So, a hard money lender (who also may be a private lender or may be a company making hard money loans) is a lender who makes loans where the PRIMARY consideration for loan approval is the asset securing the loan and the borrower’s attributes are of secondary consideration.

Your character as a man is nonexistent and your business practices are downright backwards.   

Regarding the long-term implications of using rental properties to offset your W2 income with depreciation:Depreciation Recapture and Tax PlanningDepreciation Recapture: When you sell a rental property, you'll face depreciation recapture taxes on the portion of the gain attributable to depreciation deductions taken.

Focus more on trust and character than returns.

., must share certain attributes (bedrooms, bathroom, etc.).T3: Compare property typeI came to the result of above 200k and am looking for advice/comments from experienced investors on my decision.

Would that be attributable toward the STR hours?

But as 10 year Marine Corp veteran with 2 of my sons in as well, along with my younger brother in the Secret Service, we take great pride in our character. 

I have seen so many unethical sellers while doing business in past, one could write something akin to Borges's Universal History of Iniquity based on those characters. 

The cost of the new property covered the 1031 requirement of the value being equal or greater than the sale price of the joint property that was attributable to me (50%). - After closing as an individual buyer and completing all 1031 requirements (IMHO), I formed an LLC through my lawyer for the purpose of transferring the newly acquired property in there before I rented it out.