If you're facing some stiff competition in the neighborhood, you might consider cutting the amount you're asking.  

He has stiffed other landlords and he may stiff you.

In my area that approach is a but stiff and probably wouldn't land you the 2nd date. 

If a concrete wall is placed without joints, the stiff corners restrain the wall from shrinking and it often cracks at its weakest point (as you said, mother nature adds a joint where there should have been one).  

well I cant tell you were I am working in the bay area you guys would be too stiff of competition

You're taxes will be very stiff.

In Dallas/Fort Worth, we see strong competition from $1 mio. properties all the way up to Class A assets but you will face particularly stiff competition in the $1-20 mio. range where you find a lot of individuals and syndicators that are aggressively participating.  

You may attempt to maintain some arrangement separately, but the private lender(s) would not have any real recourse if you stiff them.  

I'm not suggesting you stiff the buyer, but there really is nothing to do here yet other than continue to try and work with the pool company to pay their bills. 

And if she entered the relationship with the intent of getting married, I believe ICE has some pretty stiff rules against that as well.