Situations conducive to have activity of termites is a whole other story, plants abutting the structure, wood fence posts against the house, any pathway from earth to wood contact, moisture (they have to have moisture and hate the sun or they die, a leaky hose bib on the side of a house is a target), its like Mars, The Martian Movie, without or within without, they will die...

. ;-)  However, any walls, or floors/ceilings, in common with another unit will need to be fire rated.The first thing is to check your zoning to see if a three-unit property is permitted under current zoning and whether the property (building and lot) satisfy the sizing and coverage requirements for a three unit property.If zoning allows for three units and the property satisfies all requirements, then you can turn your attention to resilient channel, fire-X sheet rock and closets on every wall .... 

With the new boutique hotels and businesses looking to plant roots in the downtown Durham area, there are lots of opportunity to buy at lower prices right now.

If the weather clears up and the house hasn't sold yet I'll spread some dirt and plant some shrubs for a more completed look.

Grow where you're planted. 

To me, that means that now is a great time to start planting seeds that you'll be able to harvest in the spring / summer months right around the corner.Hang in there and keep at it!

Long grass, litter, overgrown plants, anything that might give me a sense that the current owner doesn't care about the property.  

Due to the land's location and how it's in a corner of the highway and a dirt road, I've recently been caught up in a water district turf war. 7 years ago I granted easement rights to the city so that now that area has access to the water plant that was built across the street.

Tenant may plant the beds adjacent totheir dwelling to their liking, but only with those plants that are ofappropriate size and type for the beds. 

I too lived in Florida; Valrico, FL just east of Tampa but before the Strawberry Festival in Plant City, FL.