Accept no money from this idiot and be sure to have any correspondence sent to your attorney .

After looking at the information the agent gave me it looks to me like he was too close on his payments and when the property value rose dramatically from the cities investment he could no longer keep up with the payments and the taxes because the property taxes rose correspondingly over that same short period all at once on his properties.

Part of the appraisal includes categorizing the "condition" of the subject property and the comps, and there's a corresponding price adjustment that will be made if the two properties are in different categories. 

It doesn't matter if you're dealing with a  bank, a correspondent "A" paper lender or a broker. 

Just buy as a private spouse, not an agent, in exchange for a corresponding price discount for the commission you would have received. 

The title company or lawyer you’re using distributes the funds at closing to the lien holders in corresponding position then the seller.

I am not a lawyer, but I believe you are in the clear to send him a new check, non certified, as long as you keep the original, unopened and returned check that shows it was sent back as undeliverable. if he ever makes waves surrounding the sec deposit, you can then show the judge that you sent the original by certified mail within the legal timeframe. in addition, save the written correspondence showing he refused to accept a certified letter.

Both my and my wife's IRAs could take corresponding distributions from the LLC to keep the above ratios, but none of us want to reduce our capital or have to sell assets to fund Marilyn's RMD withdrawals. 

I hope you have the correspondence in writing.

Just in case I'm going to enclose a separate letter. or maybe I should include it in the letter; there might be some rule that I have to copy all correspondence.