So the lender will still need to file for foreclosure in order to take it back, and hopefully repay some of their mortgage balance.  

Whoever the closing attorney was had obligation to figure this out and go the proper pro rations on the closing statement.

People without the proper knowledge, experience, and especially money, will be more likely to invest when they shouldn't and could lose their money, which would impact them a lot more than a high net worth indicidual.

I also make sure all the deadbolts latch properly and have strike plates.

Make a decent offer and then offer again if necessary until a deals made. you don't give much info here to give proper break down but  use the tools provided on here and you will find the way i'm positive!

Your intent was to have Proper repairs done, which I understand.

Maybe you should take a little more time to learn your market if you are struggling to properly estimate values prior to making offers.

<--- all of this is very academic coming from me because I've not had a bad tenants, I've just studied a lot about landlords in Ontario who have and made sure I didn't do what they did (non-professional, emotional, giving leeway and chances, not doing proper tenant screening, not setting expectations).

So you hired a properly licensed Maryland Home improvement contractor ( MHIC )   .

With that being said, many lenders do not use the proper questionnaire so you need to make sure you feel confident that your loan officer understand the difference between a full and limited review.