You appear to be on the right track.

I don't know how small claims works in TX, but when I had to chase a deadbeat for unpaid commission in Mass, he kept failing to show for hearings.I was finally able to present my case and evidence to the Magistrate who said I could have both a capias (civil arrest, where the defendant is forcibly brought to court) and an execution (sheriff or constable can seize assets and sell them to satisfy the judgement).What finally got me paid was when I gave him a hard deadline and told him that if I wasn't paid in full by X date at Y time, I was going to have his WIFE (also a named defendant) civilly arrested at work.As you might suspect, that got the deadbeat moving very quickly and yes, I was paid in full.

Flipper had work done on it in March '21 but in the last couple of months a few external cracks have grown and internal cracks have appeared.

If they don't, the tax buyer can ask the court for a tax deed.

@Stephanie Ro I actually went for a condo because of the best money for the bed/bath combo that is the largest factor in price renting to students, and also exterior maintenance and landscaping and being able to offer a pool/volley ball court/basketball court that checks the boxes for the kids. :)

The loan does not appear on a personal credit report.

If you get to court, you will pretty need to declare everything anyway. 

Here is a NJ site with links to applicable revised code:https://nj.gov/dca/divisions/c...In Ohio the tenant would have to make the repair request in writing and you would have 30 days to rectify the problem and if not rectified after 30 days the tenant could escrow rent with the court.

Holds up in court better too.

If the government provided some insurance coverage for damage exceeding the enhanced security deposit (would have to be documented of course) and exception from eviction courts for a speedy eviction, then I am sure many would sign on.