@Theresa HarrisActually bleach won’t KILL mold on much of any surface that is even remotely porous.

@Sean HollandThis would not be a recommended strategy for several reasons.The IRS could look at any such arrangement as effectively a means for you to indirectly access or benefit from your own funds.Similarly, though you are not married, if using your IRA to benefit your girlfriend and this enriches your shared household, then you are potentially benefiting yourself in that fashion as well.

The kind that looks like fake bricks and is similar to roof shingles has a flat surface and pretty easy to cover over.

I'd assume the best way to obtain this information is to physically see the property and to inquire with landlord, but what would be some indicators and measures to consider when analyzing on the surface? 

Literally replaced almost every surface in both units.

I have seen so many disasters that look perfectly fine in the surface of the transaction but once the closing papers have been signed the clean-up from deals that have been made trying to either do it on the cheap or to try to get the upper hand can be very ugly indeed.

The originally white popcorn ceiling is now yellow over the entire surface.

With slippery surfaces like wood you may have a tenant slip and fall, with hard surfaces the chance of breaking bones is higher. 

I even put newspapers with charcoal on every surface of the both the top and bottom to get rid of smell.

I'm not in RE by trade and I'm on the road a lot for my day job which means I'm going about getting started in REI the old fashioned way, slow and steady savings.