Yes, not being a resident creates another layer of difficulty. 

Those closets should be fire rated and have makeup air to each one. they should have a layer of 5/8" drywall on the walls with all joints sealed. any penetrations should be sealed with Fire caulk.

I agree with @Jeff Morelock the Tampa market is very competitive which is why having some feet on the ground is vital.

Quality of the listing is vital, so be sure to look at it yourself (assuming it's being remotely advertised.)

That type of borrowing has its own inherent risks.In each layer, each lender has their own interpretation of the guidelines and can impose overlays or rules that they feel will make the loans better. 

A few have amounted to more, but those were either really large roofs, or there were some other extenuating circumstances, like multiple layers with the bottom one being cedar shake, therefore it not only needed shingles, but all new decking as well.

@Aaron MoayedIf you are investing in your own name, you will not have an entity with a California nexus.You could also explore non-corporate entities such as land trusts to create an enhanced liability layer around an out-of-state property but still stay away from any California nexus.

Plus you have another layer of protection because they are applying, not you.

It will take several layers in some spots.

There could be many layers of complexity on top of this, depending on the factors I mentioned in the beginning.