It's just for show, as far as these guys are concerned, the money belongs to the rich co-workerSo it all depends on your personal situation.It's funny that the bank made all this fuss during the qualifying stage, but at the closing, they don't check or care to see where the funds came from.

It won't help you much in South Dakota but the credit union that I belong to does 4.75% on either a 15 year fixed or a 5/5/5 arm amortized over 20 years.

Here, even if the tree belonged to your neighbor, it would be 100% your responsibility.

If the old Landlord keeps it, I would consider that theft and I think a court of law would agree.If it's not too late, have the tenant put a "stop payment" on the check before it's cashed.If it's too late, notify the old Landlord - in writing - that the money rightfully belongs to you for payment of rent and demand return within XX days or you will file a claim in court.

Because I dont care if the tenant loses all their belongings in a fire, or if they get sued.

I am really not sure where this posts belongs as it touches on a few different topics.

This is a no-pets property, clearly spelled out in the lease.The neighbor contacted me to complain about a dog that's been in the unit for about 3 months & says it belongs to the tenant's family that has apparently moved in. 

I don't know how possible to de-contaminate a space with all of the tenants belongings in there.

We are personally comfortable being renters as it suits our frequent moves, but I can't help but feel like we could really optimize certain advantages like BAH, and VA/TSP loans with the right amount of research.The problem is we don't really have the time or interest to be long-distance landlords, and with very young children (and more on the way) the immediate time suck of rehabbing and the home chaos of living in a place under construction (if we went the BRRRR route) is almost completely out of the question. 

Milwaukee has shifted a bunch of stuff from the tax bill, where it probably belongs, over to what is commonly called the water bill, but includes snow removal, garbage and recycling, and all of the water related fees.