On the 18th, he pays the outstanding rent and late charge which stops the legal clock.

No Contractor will give you their bad jobs customers to talk to....you will only get 3 of their best customers...everyone has a few even if they are horrible. 2) Make sure you get Lien Releases from every Subcontractor involved in the project, not just from the GC himself.

Most good GC's will be able to get Subs and Materials at a discounted rate that you will never get....so the actual cost to you may be close to the same.That way, you don't have to: 1) deal with the Sub's crews (you don't know anything about the trades and can be taken advantage of easily), 2) Deal with City Inspectors - they hate dealing with homeowners/Investors, 3) assume any liability for faulty work , 4) worry about Lien Releases and stuff like that, 5) Verify that all subs have Liability Insurance/Bonds/Workers Comp, 6) be involved with materials...picking up, storage, warranties, liabilities, etc....Your time is better spent running your investment business - find a new property to flip, keep your books in order, etc.

Stephanie I recommend maybe looking to post this in the group on note investing as that is where many are active about those who invest in notesReal Estate Tax Lien & Note Investing Forum | BiggerPockets

Include price, interest, payment schedule, and default terms.Have a real estate attorney review everything and record the lien properly.

Quote from @Kyle Calabria: Quote from @Lien Vuong: If your goal is in 70CF/30AP I think you're better off out of state or eastern side of MA. 

.🔑 How it works:The buyer uses a DSCR loan as the primary financing tool (65–75% LTV).The seller carries back the down payment as a 2nd-position lien, preserving their equity and deferring taxes.A transactional lender covers the temporary funding gap to ensure a seamless double close or to facilitate acquisition.✅ Benefits:No need to bring in cash for the down paymentSeller gets long-term returns and capital gains tax advantagesBuyer acquires a cash-flowing asset with minimal out-of-pocket investmentWorks for SFR, multifamily, land, and even self-storageThis method is especially effective when there's strong equity and a motivated seller willing to be flexible.

Should I involve an attorney ahead of time to check for liens, back taxes, or other encumbrances that might transfer with the property?

I’ve stepped back from active acquisitions largely because the numbers I’m seeing don’t resemble what I’ve historically required, as well as other business and life commitments.That said, I’d like to put this capital to work.Ideally, my investment would have:15%+ annual ROI target cash flow.Ongoing time commitment of 0–10 hours per weekMy current position:Willing to invest upfront time if the ongoing commitment becomes minimalOpen to both long-term wealth building and/or strong cash flow (A blend of both, or strong on one side, and less on the other).Paths I’m Considering:Acquiring additional rentals (if strong returns are still realistic in certain markets or niches)Private lending / hard money lendingPurchasing performing or non-performing notesTax liens / tax deedsFunding flips or partnering with operators Real estate syndications or crowdfunding (though I question whether 15%+ is realistic here)Current obstacles:For buying potential rentals / distressed properties / flips - Locating potential deals. 

On the 18th, he pays the outstanding rent and late charge which stops the legal clock.