are they secured by reverse mortgages ?  

What do you do to ensure that the tenant is responsible for security deposit disputes since that is the largest reason for owner lawsuitsHow familiar are you with the newly changed laws that can affect you the owner if they are not used correctly?. 

I am okay holding it but wanted to issue a "holding deposit" that would turn into part of security deposit at lease signing, but if for some reason they back out it could semi- recoup the cost of holding and not advertising. 

For example, you buy the place and the tenant could claim the Seller allowed them to paint the walls black or that their security deposit was twice what the Seller claimed.

Think of all the things that could go wrong and see if the lease addresses them: unauthorized pets or tenants, early termination, security deposit, lease violations, late rent, eviction, lawn maintenance, parking, etc.5.

She has told me that she isn’t paying another months rent because I have the security deposit.

Get ahold to some books by Joe Fairless, Micheal Blank, Tim Franz,  Hugh Grant.

If you feel you have a case, you can take a chance and take it out of his security deposit. 

This may be a long shot, but does anyone have the grant cardone 10x book they are done with and would be willing to send it to me?

Will the tenant forfeit the security deposit?