What I don't understand is how they have been able to amass a bill into four figures, not get paid and suddenly assess the home owner.I think that its a billing issue that needs to resolved. 

The economy has no effect on my ability to carry the properties and a devaluation, provided I hold long term, is only a loss on paper.For myself I place a very high value on the opportunity value/cost of cash.

When reviewing the credit history take all debts into consideration, ability to pay and for you to collect if they default is dependant on all their debts including student and medical.

Thanks to bigger pockets I believe more in myself and ability to be successful in real estate.

IE buy a home that your going to reno and there is the ability to bust a lot of off it.. this will get you used to the process..its the same process 70% of the time for those as it is a 20 lot development..

Both hats call for the ability to ask probing, open ended questions - in auditing to identify amounts correctly, and in your case, to do proper tax planning and use the IRC to your fullest advantage.Not the best news for you, but I hope it helps.Jim Kennedy, CPA 

They will factor this into your ability to pay.

I have no concerns about his ability to accurately bid this job or his ability to complete the job timely. 

This approach may limit your ability to rent, I am not sure though. 

Purely a guess at the moment, but he also runs the risk of losing the ability to creatively use the land if the mapping goes the wrong way.