Broadly for me/us I'd just say that our perception of where the market/economy is headed just informs more of a general intuitive appetite for using leverage.My view is that uncertainty in future market outlook (perhaps forecasted by leading indicators) mainly drives price volatility, and perhaps increases risk of lenders 'calling' revolving credit lines to meet their own liquidity needs.The more 'bad' the indicators are, the more chance that we perceive our lenders possibly wanting to 'call' revolving lines of credit, is the way I think about it.  

It's a capitalistic society so you can do whatever you want to make more money. 

I do hope they catch on and w/ population increase every year, I think they will and if they don't, the over-populated society will eventually be forced to accept it...that's in the far future after I'm long gone, of course.

We're a car society here.  

We are becoming a society of un checked permissives unfortunately.

It's a sad situation but you can't/shoudn't feel responsible for someone that has allowed themselves to get into this situation.EDIT: this is one more example of why government welfare is bad for society.

Aloha,Actually, the Local Humane Society likely has some documents you should utilize.

Should I end up with deadbeat tenants, I'm potentially stuck with them for years because NY laws protect non-contributing members of society. 

This is an excellent place to start - examining your assumptions, perceptions, biases and fear. 

A perception of a win-win is possible without sacrificing business objectives.What this looks like practically for us:Protect yourself- #1 (especially in California) make sure to insulate yourself, if things go south.