Financing costs are much more expensive than they were a few years ago, and you just never know when a property is going to be a maintenance headache or you happen to switch to a market where rents happen to fall over the next 12-18 months. 

.© lerbank - iStock/Getty Images PlusThe spring housing market is off to a sluggish start, with home sales falling in March.

Determining whether the venture falls under a service or rental business hinges on the provision of substantial services; for instance, if a bed and breakfast service is offered, it must be reported on Schedule C, triggering a 15.3% self-employment tax.Moreover, personal use plays a crucial role in the classification of the property.

Yes, I do hear this all the time about how deals fall through with clients and agents purchasing them. 

We once had a NACA client fall in love with a renovated home. 

that is the pro :-) we always forget the cons :a) current appreciation is very different right now, some CA property is getting hot but FL and TX experienced price reductionb) SF condo has depreciation, but san mateo condo has appreciation lolc) dont forget eviction, maintenance, tree falling, renter not paying, insurance increase a lot and property tax also increasethe risk/reward in rental today's market is not as enticing as 12 months ago.no more 10% appreciation with 7.4% mortgage rate.

Rent Roll13. property survey14. prelim title report (your broker can help with that)I DO NOT Ask or recommend my clients ask for tax returns, credit reports, bank statements - These fall into financial privacy protections and if my buyer walks from the deal, there is too much liability & risk with having that information if were to be leaked.If a third party management company has been managing it, you'll get basic information (income/expense, rent roll & leases, maintenance records, capex (maybe if they oversaw)).Owner operated properties will have less of this information as most mom/pop operators don't keep good records, in my experience.Don't worry about all this BEFORE the offer. 

What happens if you don't build the wall - is the bank falling off? 

Here are a few potential types:* House hackers trying to figure out how to do accounting (I fall into this category, as I live in one unit of a 2-unit property)* Real estate agents who need accounting software, or transaction management software, or marketing software (I also fall into this category)* Landlords who self-manage and want something to help them with marketing, tenant management, accepting rents, etc., and also need bookkeeping/accounting software.

Most likely the state where the property is located is where lawsuits would be brought if they are something for personal injury like a trip and fall or something of that nature because the “cause of action” arose in that state.