I didn't inquire into the details, but it would be my guess (given that particular state) that the owner was also sued.In my case, one of the reasons I have a property manager is risk mitigation (beyond wanting nothing to do with the day to day hand holding of tenants).

Expect to travel more often than you might like when starting out, now that I have some experience and a great team I only travel when purchasing new properties.

Often the timing of recordation or the date the obligation accrued is paramount.Without jurisdictional info and a title report (including all taxes, judgments, perhaps more), nobody here can give you an answer.

The answer is often "in the country". ie.

The company is merely a formality - Realtors and escrow officers switch companies every so often.

But that's just me, like what is said here often, we all have different goals and strategies.

That's why it was a problem so often in foreclosed houses where the water wasn't turned off but the electricity was.

In fact I would say I have had much worse service from residential brokers who decline to call me back or answer my emails much more often. 

All my clients buy multi-family and 95% of tenant-occupied properties are listed this way. 

In their experience, they had a higher turn over of tenants/vacancy and it took longer to sale once they tried to sell it.