Are you a person who is always going, never gives up, do you brush off rejections, etc?

It's possible notice of the fake mortgage recording was just sent to the property and the tenants brushed it aside because it wasn't addressed to them.

Something like Moen Lindor brushed nickel shower fixtures.

But, at second brush, it seems to me like the only properties for which an owner would ask for excess proceeds were the properties I was going to lose to shrew investors anyway.

I expressed this concern via email and was essentially brushed off saying we have 90%+ occupancy, it will take time. 

Yes, there truly are risks, don't just brush it off. 

Need to brush up on business.  1.  

For example what if I found a house that did not need much more than paint and a brush up. 

If it is a small spot, use a tiny paint brush (like you'd use to paint a picture) and just touch up the spot with the plaster.

I've just  been brushed it off for a while as I continued to build a portfolio on own, and wanted to continue to gain more experience before going down that road and the large responsibility that comes with bringing in other peoples money into the investments.