If I default (which would not happen) they could foreclose on me, and have my down payment to cover some of those costs and float them along.

All good points and not trying to start a word war either:)Let's just say we've seen few people that can research and do everything necessary to successfully be a DIY landlord, but significantly more people that "float" through the process and then have no idea what to do when confronted with a landlord challenge.

Would a new floating floor cover it. 

Banks were profiting by collecting higher than market rates by letting these fraudulent mortgages float.

Can't beat the float on this.  

People are floating their stuff on air mattresses and in fridges.

I just need to close it up and do the finish work IE - sheetrock, tape/float/texture, tile flooring, cabinets, etc.. all major work has been completed and passed city inspection (foundation,elect,roof,plumbing) I just need help finding a trusted contractor in san antonio that can handle the above work at a fair price, anybody have any suggestions, referals??  

I'd be looking at homes in the Fairfield and New Haven counties(may drift further away but I'd like to start there as I'm most familiar.).

Omg there's a bunch of testosterone floating around on this thread.

I think a lot of people are just plain embarrassed and when they hear that the mortgage late information is floating out there, it's an "OH S***" moment and really wakes them up.In fact, when my wife and I realized that there were several of our neighbors on the mortgage late list (none that we know personally), my wife said to me, "Don't you dare ever miss a mortgage payment!!!"