It is not a quality asset if it doesn't have more substance to the file.

Not sure if he service in Vancouver, but no harm checking with him.

It'll be work to litigate later and you'll have no proof of intended harm.

You don't; need a whole book really- all you need is:1) Figure out your income tax bracket 2) What Jurisdiction offer the right Tax Incentives that will drop your tax rate3) How to set up the right entity in that jurisdiction4) How to legally route the money through that entity through "form and substance" as approved by the IRS5) Get the right attorneys to set you up 6) Get the right Tax Advisors to file your taxes and voila you can go like me from over 40% in Tax per year (because I make a substantial income from rental and flipping) to 15% flat due to some tax incentives being offered by Congress through the US territory of Puerto Rico.

No harm in letting them know you are the designated "property manager".

You have a lot of leeway when it is an urgent issue harming people or property, but this post-emergency work can vary.

The #s sound too tight for comfort/aggravation.I would determine what # you need for the amount of investment and aggravation involved in your chosen scenario, and then make an offer to the bank for that amount (or a little lower, expecting some negotiation) for the short sale #.Basically, if you're willing to walk away anyway, there's no harm in throwing out a # you would actually want the property at, especially if you already have a line of communication with the bank.They say in a negotiation, "(s)he who cares the least wins".

If they slow a house closing over a lien and they lose they could be in for a rude awakening if you can prove you were harmed, which you can.  

The lender is going to know that the tenant's lease payment obligation will end when they buy the house, so the rent isn't going to hurt their debt-to-income ratio or otherwise harm their ability to get a mortgage.2.  

I will tell you that if you don't have an understanding of all of this, it may not be the best option for you, as it can cause you more harm than good.