[detective]

I don't believe a word of this. She supposedly made renovations to her own house and expected the Palins to pay for it. Then she supposedly went and found an author in Massachusetts and rented him their house for a few months.

This doesn't make sense. The more likely explanation is that there is a coordinated attempt to spy on the Palins and get damaging information. The woman and the author(who has not been successful lately) are probably paid participants in a larger effort.

[SmokingJoe]

I don't believe a word of this. She supposedly made renovations to her own house and expected the Palins to pay for it.

Pretty much.
Wish my neighbor had been paying for my house repairs all these years. I am sure he'd fall over luaghing if I went over and calmly suggested that he pay for MY repairs.
Story makes no sense.
I think we are essentially talking about a neighbor, who read in the press that Sarah Palin had made $12 million in 7 months, and decided to start his own extortion racket: Pay for my repairs or I go get the most vile creature I can find to come rent my property right next to you.