The state statutes are all the same, but each county has a lot of latitude in how its process runs.Then there is the judgment amounts.  

Demand that any future PM add it to their lease, unless they can cite you chapter and verse of the state statutes where your properties are that forbid it.  .Wear and Tear: TENANT AGREES THAT DIRT, FILTH, GREASE, GRIME, SMUDGES, DINGS, HOLES, STAINS, SCRATCHES, TEARS, CRACKS, CHIPS, AND BREAKAGE does not constitute normal usage and will be billed as damages. _____ _____ _____ _____ (initials)

You can sign right on your cell phone too.As to the hand shake, the Statute of Frauds (https://legal-dictionary.thefr...) states that certain kinds of contracts must be in writing to be enforceable - and that includes real estate.One of the benefits of a well written contract is that you can build in terms and conditions. 

Many have done this successfully in the past, but it's getting harder due to many municipalities passing statutes or enforcing zoning to crack down on STRs.

ME Title 14 Ch 710 §6033 (2) (I really don't know how to quote legal text)https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/14/title14sec6033.htm...I would familiarize myself with all of Title 14, Chapters 710 and 710-A.Again, not a lawyer, just free advise so take it for what you paid for it: Personally, I would take them at their word on a family emergency and mail them the security deposit. 

This is a Trust that has similar limited liability provisions to LLCs and is governed by statute.

If it's unclaimed, then I'm sure it's remanded to the state to hold as unclaimed property but Alaska does have a statute that caps the percentage of finders fee to be charged when handling transactions of that nature.If you learn of something different, please share, but that is the knowledge I turned up from the fruits of my research.

(b) Except for mortgage loans as defined in G.S. 53-243.01, this Article shall not apply toany party approved as a mortgagee by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, theFederal Housing Administration, the Veterans Administration, a National Mortgage Associationor any federal agency; nor to any party currently designated and compensated by a North Carolinalicensed insurance company as its agent to service loans it makes in this State; nor to any insurancecompany registered with and licensed by the North Carolina Insurance Commissioner; nor, withrespect to residential mortgage loans, to any residential mortgage banker or mortgage brokerlicensed pursuant to Article 19A of Chapter 53 of the General Statutes or exempt from licensurepursuant to G.S. 53-243.01(12) and G.S. 53-243.02; nor to any attorney-at-law, public accountant,or dealer registered under the North Carolina Securities Act, acting in the professional capacity forwhich such attorney-at-law, public accountant, or dealer is registered or licensed under the laws ofthe State of North Carolina.

In addition to the core part of the agreement as the parties understand it, under the procedures established by law (by statute, caselaw, or both), there are many technical details that need to be stated in the contract to make sure the deal goes through as the parties want it to.

One of the big causes for confusion was that the statutes applying to lease options was written into Title 2 Chapter 5 regarding Conveyances, which would be contract for deed.