Thanks @Obed Calixte for the description of regulations that are prevalent. 

But who knows what larger costs could be lurking and that also causes me stress.I'm very tempted to walk away from a stressful situation with a couple bucks that I can put towards something where I live (I have no plans of moving again), but I don't want to make a stupid decision based off of fear.

I still get a bit of fear each time I still buy so you may experience and mostly on your first deal.

Do not let fear hold you back.

People working through the pandemic got bonuses and stimulus money and if they lived in a city area where its fearful to raise a family with a deadly virus looming around threatening to kill everyone (whether you agree or disagree  to how valid that is many people still have the fear mindset) has pushed them out to home ownership verse apartments especially if they can work virtual. 

The thought of a tenant having to stand on a ladder to clean out gutters should strike fear in the heart of every landlord.Gail

You don't have to press charges; just let the officers put a little fear into them.My question is, why would they even do this?

When a refinance is done after a 1031 exchange is complete there is not nearly the fear factor that this would be treated that way. 

This, I fear, is more fundamental.

I personally would stay away from big cities based on that dynamic that just tends to be more prevalent in major metro areas.