My product hasn't gone to market yet, and already I'm facing stiff competition undercutting my price.

That could slow the population growth.Class A properties face stiff competition and there is more to come.

We are trying to find a niche in the Greater Los Angeles market (a market with stiff competition). 

If the situation & facts are as @Joseph Parker has stated,and if reported to the Indiana Department of Real Estate Licensing - I suspect the Brokerage & Agent may be subject to some stiff fines & penalties.  

Yes, as an accountant, I do know that 50 minutes is less than an hour, thank you. 10 minutes for a stiff drink in between.10.

What happens if they stiff you on rent? 

The vast majority of these folks aren't looking to stiff their landlords just because the law says that we won't be able to evict them until late this year. 

The first person they will choose to stiff is the landlord that has been so understanding.

Bellevue competition is stiff. 

And certainly we COULD wait to get paid after everything is done, but this is standard prudent safe practice at least for my industry and certainly there are bad contractors out there that stiff people and don't do good work, but trust me when I say there are homeowners and businesses that can be just as shady (and unfortunately have been at times to my company) in terms of being uber perfectionists and withholding payment for unreasonable expectations.