Turns out the debt is mostly from 3 auto loans (~50k).  

I had the privilege of growing up on a farm and am now a mechanical engineer.

After saying I would not pay the 4th invoice or the pending 5th invoice fully, but only up to the not to exceed number the contractor has sent a notice of a pending mechanic's lien on the property.  

I have travelers insurance, I have auto insurance, and I have rental property insurance on my rental properties.  

However, had you thought about the FUTURE economics of the area, you would have thought about Domestic Auto Companies and Detroit's dependency on them.

I have a 500/mo auto loan that I don't need and never should have gone into but I wasn't thinking smart.

I'm an trained nuclear mechanic and dropped out of my civil engineering degree during my senior design project to begin investing. 

Think COMPANY TOWN, eg Redmand, WA (Microsoft) & Detroit, MI (auto industry). 

Same with roofer, car mechanic, carpet installer, painter, etc.

I think you can have your bank do auto deposit of the checks at the beginning of each month, I believe there is a bank fee for the service.