Thus you'd effectively be "gifting" them a monthly payment which is not tax deductible.However, this doesn't look like a gift to me, mainly due to your monthly payment.

This is another good reason to invest in multi units as the management is fare more cost effective as opposed to a SFH.

Trying to see if it is cost effective to build a new home on the lot vs. modular home.  

The lady at the finance office gave me a copy of ordinance number 4320, bill number 4456(see links below), which became effective January 2017.

you already have it in writing that you are the new owner and all payments would go to you. you just need to notify the tenants that the payments will now be made to you and to send it to your address and that all provisions of the signed lease remain in effect.

Learn to become a good investor and invest where you can apply your skills the most effectively, efficiently, and profitably, which is normally in your own backyard.

There's some great guides around and plenty of places to learn about how to do it effectively. 

Denver for example, has 3% of total office inventory, compared to 1.5% historically, with 5 million square feet of construction underway.According to CoStar, "The impending wave of new supply will have an impending ripple effect on demand fundamentals such as net absorption, occupancy and rental rates in several large markets in coming quarters."

I'm not paranoid, but I would like to be prepared in the event something does go wrong with or property, it can't effect any of the other properties.

There's a new rental development going up not too far away in Point Richmond that could have a positive effect on your rents, as those new townhomes will be market rate (though market rate is technically still tbd, of course).