PEX pretty bulletproof, if it's going to leak it's usually at fixtures or crimp bands or where someone poked a hole with a drywall screw. 

People in the north can get really screwed if, for example, their property is out of service during the peak summer season when they would typically earn all of their revenueA lot of Northern places are FREAKING OUT over STRs & STR regulations & they don’t seem to be very supportive of it.

If there are no liens on the property you could buy it at upset sale for the tax amount and basically screw the seller as you would be the owner

I've been problem solving this for years.Sometimes it's worth it to proceed when you get appraiser-screwed, and sometimes you have to pass.

Screw up with one property and the entire thing falls like a house of cards.

I don't know the whole store or your relationship but if he cut corners or screwed up, hold him accountable. 

Find a new contractor, yours screwed you.

Problem is, the property is 3+ hours away from where we work/live so we can't be there every day.We've considered backing out and losing the $9K, but might lean towards making the deal work depending on what strategies we can use.question is who the heck is representing you here.. and was the 9k into escrow Earnest money.. that cant be release without your consent.just refuse to sign the release then you normally can split the baby down the middle and get half your money back.if you gave them 9k without it being EM your screwed.

So I bought this house and I think I may have screwed myself.

It should not be "screw him, I'm not paying that" amount where a tenant just refuses to pay it.