Hopefully in your contract you have a clause that allows you to demand performance.U can threaten performance but thats a very long and expensive drawn out legal affair. 

That is exactly what I am trying to do, stay out of their affairs.

It is a sad state fo affairs if we still have short sales in 2019. 10 years of modifications, adjustments and I assume in at least some cases, not making any payments. 

Legal entity is absolutely NOT required just don't commingle your business and personal affairs.

Goals for having an LLC structure in my priority order are: 1 Liability - keep personal net worth away from business, 2 Separation - Keep operating activities separate from assets, 3 Compartmentalization - Keep asset risk separate, and 4 Anonymity - Keep personal identifying information out of business affairs. 

There are management companies that handle all of your affairs for very reasonable prices. 

This guy is active duty military and I know they sometimes can ‘motivate’ a member to get his affairs in order.So, in closing (yes, finally), is it common to just write everything off and settle only for deposit?

If there's any further issues with the building Dept reach out to the department of consumer affairs.

But then went to say in detail that this was a "black tie affair" and 100 people will be attendance!     

Here is an excerpt from a bulletin put out by the NJ Dept of Community affairs - Nj Anti Eviction Act code N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1(j):"j.