It really sounds like you are trying to maximize the return on this tenant's occupancy by withholding as much of the tenant's security deposit as you possibly can.Making the statement "I know they are lying" given the utter lack of any sort of evidence except an omission from a home inspector's notes...further evidence this industry might not be the right fit for you.

It’s both a reflection of the pandemic-fueled housing boom and a market that was chilled by the coronavirus last spring as sales died in escrow and would-be sellers decided not to move.

@David KrulacWow, that gave me chills!

I would hope people are on vacation and in the "chill out" mindset and not going to get too bent out of shape about seating arrangements for supper. 

Ask them to take a Chill Pill, put any bitterness and money issues on the sideline until the dust settles and don't let money cloud their lives.It is very difficult to acquire properties and simple to dump them for pennies on the dollar.

Have been saving money to get my first du/tri/four plex (should get one by next year if this market chills out lol) AND I’m a licensed Realtor in GA (Got my first close this month🥳).

Ok let's take a deep breath and chill for a minuet or two.  

You seem chill about it and open to a discussion and that is the right mindset. 

@Dareen AllieThat saying is utter BS.You can have the best deal in the world and if you can’t put it in front of somebody that understands that it is a deal AND has resources your contracted property is going to sit there.

I have always been professional and responsive, even though some of the concerns they raise are utter minutiae.The $20 increase is not a “money grab” – my insurance premiums just went up 15%.