The vast majority of lawsuits against Landlords are for wrongful eviction, security deposit disputes, and Fair Housing Violations.

The “tales” of nothing down/seller subordinates “down payment” done successfully almost always hide the most important information - that the buyer either provided additional collateral (such as real property owned “free and clear”, a certificate of deposit in an amount greater than the down payment required, or the buyer is financially strong enough that part of the financing was in effect a personal loan or line of credit. 

I have heard mixed responses on whether to charge both first and last month’s rent and a security deposit, or just first or last month’s rent and security deposit.

They've been fabulous from the very beginning, responsive, polite, paid their first month's rent and deposit early, etc.

My tenant of 1 year just moved out recently (work transfer), but during the move-out inspection we found that one of the 10X10 bedroom has all four side of the wall covered in screw holes from the time they used it as a computer room (I believe the holes were from the sound deadening foam that they used to attach to the wall) So I was wondering what would seem to be a fairly reasonable cost to be deducted from their Security Deposit for the excessive holes and needing to repaint.

We don’t bother with security deposits, so there’s no recourse against the outgoing tenant who destroyed the furniture that was ‘new’ (meaning great condition off of Craigslist) just a year prior.

The vast majority of lawsuits against Landlords are for wrongful eviction, security deposit disputes, and Fair Housing Violations.

We canceled the contract, returned his earnest money deposit, and put the property back on the market.

For example, I often see Buyers purchase property thinking there is a $1,000 deposit but then the tenant claims it was $2,000 because they paid the last month's rent.

Think of all the things that could go wrong and see if the lease addresses them: unauthorized pets or tenants, early termination, security deposit, lease violations, late rent, eviction, lawn maintenance, parking, etc.5.