They are far more common now and harder to find models without but:1) these add cost to the purchase price2) they don't bring a lot of value3) they can leak or detach and damage the propertyI own around 50 doors and I cap off the line at the wall or in the basement with a valve and a cap so the potential for leaks is 0.00001% :-) 

- We had 2 break-in & furnace & HWH thefts there this year:(File a claim ASAP, you'll need:1) Utility bills to prove electric & gas were on2) A police report, proving a break-in3) Pics/video to prove the condition of the property to support theft claimWhat are you doing to mitigate additional damages?

What documents do they require, what credit scores do they allow, how do they verify previous rental history, etc.?

When you go to a Bank or Credit Union, they can only offer you what products that bank or credit union offer.

I have also have saved almost $50K so far to take a start in this game and also my personal credit score is above 750.I'd like someone to guide me purchasing my first property and want to kickstart with a small property first.

At this point, I would recommend having a line of credit to cover these things so you don't have money sitting in the bank doing nothing when it could be put to work.I have 33 units, no debt except for mortgages, and excellent income.

So I get this referral from a relative about a tenant who has good credit score, no criminal history, and a good paying job.

I think I would be more worried about the credit than I am about the DUI.

Credit unions, banks, mortgage companies and private lenders.They all had the same answer.

Also, townhomes are a great bridge property, it's a common trend that those in townhomes are aspiring for home ownership meaning credit sensitive and with that right mindset.