In my market the tax sales have power players with fat CASH.

Get cash in hand and keep the security deposit approach as a backup to protect those funds for any damage caused.Court would be my last resort. 

Is there a check list or something that people commonly use before giving a loan to be sure that they are protected from common issues? 

Cap rates are compressed low inventory of available properties (some brokers saying that as soon as they get a listing it is already spoken for) and some large players continuing to build large luxury apartment complexes that are trading at high amounts once they stabilize. 

I have been fortunate to have a couple of great partners, and having things in writing is especially important in maintaining relationships that are already good, in addition to protecting yourself.

Sometimes HELOC appraisals aren't to the detail that some loans require.Keep in mind the point of the appraisal in this case isn't to put a market value on your house as much as to ensure the bank's protected if you default.

Is there a tax deduction/protection strategy for a 67 year old to hold a note on a capital gains tax?

I wanted to pick anyone's brain that is familiar with this new law Cuomo signed into the Statewide Housing Security & Tenant Protection Act of 2019 and the Housing Stability & Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (the Acts).

Whether it's Buffet, Bezos or any of the bigger players in real estate, nobody slows down when they reach financial freedom. 

We have codes that require us to use impact windows or suitable storm protection.