There should be a sentence that defines what the “deposit” is, and a place to state the amount.

In everything you wrote , you had one sentence that stood out. 

Lives break just as easy as houses, but are much harder to fix.This little sentence hit close to home for me and really puts things into perspective.

From conversations with previous tenants, the landlord is currently serving a prison sentence having inherited the properties unexpectedly. 

Most of the brokers/lenders I engage with can recite the 60-day requirement, but seem never to bother reading the very next sentence.

Btw, if you think mortgage fraud is merely a technicality that doesn’t get prosecuted, I know three individuals who served Federal sentences for mortgage fraud, one who was sentenced to seven years and served almost five.Have I ever actually seen or been involved in nothing down deals that where accomplished a sense fraud.

Between the original closing costs, foundation repair, pipe repairs and water damage as well as the taxes and commission to sell it you still could come out even (or ahead), however, if you've fixed most of the issues at this point you might consider waiting to gain more appreciation on the property before selling.Reading your second to the last sentence it's written in a way where you may have already made up your mind.Good luck,-Chris

What we do is once the accepted applicant gives a deposit we send a once sentence email to anyone else to applied that says "Thank you for your interest in the apartment at [address], the landlord has gone with a different applicant."

You need to be very careful when you use the word scrape and lead paint in the same sentence. 

Spector, who had a history of drunken spats and domestic abuse allegations, was convicted of second-degree murder in 2009 and was sentenced to 19 years to life.