Your tenants who faced with an already tight household budget may decide to rig the issue instead of fixing it properly.  

The only way to learn that lighting is hot is to see it catch a tree on fire.

STR regulations have been a VERY hot topic here for the last year (and even beforehand).

First you need to learn to separate the following:Maintenance: usually things related to wear & tear or tenant damage.Repairs: usually broken items like doors & windows, caused by tenant or nature.Capital Improvements: usually expensive things that wear out: hot water tanks, furnaces, roofs, etc.The seller is correct that Repairs & Capital Improvement items should not be a factor for awhile (ALWAYS get your own inspection to confirm).

I used to have one many years ago and it never got very hot.

Lastly, while birth rates are declining the # of pet households is increasing.   

Jersey City is hot right now but like I tell my clients the majority of the time I can find them deals that make more sense in Essex County but that depends on the client and what their needs are along with their comfort level. 

However I have had to replace some major appliances recently which had put my in the defecate and added to my motivation to sell (Hot water heater, two refrigerates and a washer/dryer).

Here are the common exceptions:Relocation for Work: If your job requires you to move a significant distance from your current property (usually over 50 miles), you may qualify for a second FHA loan near your new workplace.Increase in Family Size: If your household has grown, and your current property no longer meets your family’s needs, you may qualify for a second FHA loan to purchase a larger home.Co-Borrower Separation: If you co-signed on an FHA loan and are no longer living in the property (e.g., after a divorce or separation), you may qualify for a second FHA loan for your primary residence.Non-Occupying Co-Borrower: If you were a co-signer but did not occupy the original property, you may qualify for another FHA loan as the primary borrower.Important Note: FHA guidelines typically require you to demonstrate that the current property will not meet your needs or is no longer feasible as your primary residence.2.

WA is not a landlord friendly state, but if you are going to invest in WA, the eastern side has some hot spots like the tri-cities area that may yield good cash flow and appreciation and still be close enough for you to go there when you need to.