Just over a year ago I had a handyman level an old subfloor with self levelling cement and install vinyl plank. 

No paint is appropriate for wood stairs.

If it's "fiber cement" siding, it may contain asbestos. 

@Jay Hinrichs I'm looking at details like paint product, whether bath mirrors/lights are aligned to the cabinet or the faucet, and style of baseboard corners, whether there are stair skirts, minimum open space for the washer and dryer, how strong half-walls need to be, etc.

You could cure the problem yourself by pouring a 6" high cement stem wall under the studs from your side of the wall.   

In Mecklenburg County (home to Charlotte) a duplex/triplex/etc. is required to have fire separation that fully separate the units from one another.When I turned a 2-story single family into a duplex a few years ago, we ended up having to pour a cement floor between the spaces.

What would you do with these stairs to finish them out?

It was built in 1901 and the strange thing is it only has one door to enter the house and it's in the back with indoor stairs to each unit and no fire escapes- is this a huge violation I'd be responsible for if I buy?

It basically has the same entrance open to the main floor but stairs down to a complete unit perfect for mom. 

I also had to let go of a few other helpers along the way and am close to firing the front porch cement guy.