If he refuses and especially if he was an agent on this deal, I would report him to the local board of realtors and possibly also to the state's real estate commission.

When you are buying deals, always focus on our exit strategy.

Please provide useful advice on locating, assessing, and negotiating private money lending deals, especially from seasoned professionals.

You're dealing with an attorney and a pretty selfish one at that. 

And if you reduce the amount, you are reducing your protection.I have tried both and I'm still not sure which way to go.Airbnb's solution (neither one, just a virtual deposit, in case) is the best, IMO, but vrbo has not yet copied this one (I wish they would).How are you dealing with this matter for those of you on VRBO?

Bump them up close to market rate, but consider keeping it 5-10% below market as an incentive for them staying. 

What made you interested in investing in this type of deal?

I would get about 20 leads daily and about 1% of those would lead to a property closing out.

See if you can just completely close the bank accounts. 

If there is mold, you need him out anyhow to deal with it.Edited  to add: any chance whatever caused the fungal infection was the result of the surgery?