I currently work as an analyst at Kingsley Associates, a real estate market research and consulting company.

Look to your local Home-Builders association or Home Inspection Association for good contacts. 

It will report things like, this applicants past address is associated with multiple incidents of fraud etc.  

I am in a good cash position but of course would like to stay that way and not weather any hits from the condo association.

The listing agent still technically represents you anyway, and as liabilities associated with you, fess on the buyer side, etc.

I have used that approach4) Some people use private lenders- Friends, family or associates that are willing to lend. 5) Do transactions like wholesaling or Bird Dogging that don't require cash. 6) Owner financing- pay the owner over time. 7) Rent to own also know as Lease /OptionI'm sure I have missed many other options but these are pretty basic and common.

Simply ask for associate access in exchange for dead leads you receive.

I am not sure if your two revolving accounts listed above have a min. monthly payment, but assuming they dont, the only other payment that will get factored into your DTI is your current mortgage Principal, Interest, Taxes, Insurance, and Association (PITIA).

The other problem was the fraud committed by the borrowers and/or their associates.

A few thoughts:- Your contract should dictate the terms of what you pay and when (as others have already said)- Your contract should dictate a schedule or at least an end-date, and the penalities associated with missing those dates- If the work isn't getting done as promised, fire the contractor, BUT pay him for the labor he's already put in.