I'm glad to hear you've had success, though I think tax liens and tax deeds are different animals.

Does this mean anyone who says their animal is a service animal can get around my no pet policy?

Be sure your marketing and your application include whether you have a pets/no pets policy; assistance animal policy; ALL adults must complete application and will be named on the Rental Agreement; utility responsibilities; SD requirement; when and how various funds are due (app fee, SD, initial rent, etc).

For permits https://desotomo.com/departments/animal-control/I would suggest you vet any GC very carefully, make sure their plumbers, electrician and HVAC are state licensed.I'd also suggest permitted work for liability and equity purposes.The electrical will be dependent on what code cycle of the NEC that Desoto has adopted.Its doubtful an old HVAC is performing adequately relative to its installation let alone relative to current requirements.

It's the same with pets some people are highly allergic to animals and will specifically rent in a no pet building.

Unfortunately house hacking is kinda out of my reach.I have a 3 bed 2 bath primary that my wife and I live in with my 2 adult sons,which need to start investing in there own home by now lol,20 year old and a 23 year old.And my wife loves animals so some of those too.So I come with a lot of baggage to house hack I believe,unless there is a way I am not aware of.Sounds like your off to a great start,keep going forward!

Quote from @Erika Peketi: My process is to serve them with an unauthorized animal violation, fine them $200, and require them to remove the animal within 72 hours and pass an inspection.

I have plans for land I want to purchase to build self-sustaining animal sanctuaries with vet services, growing food for them.Also more land to build self-sustaining low income/homeless developments, with career assistance, training, garden including growing vegetables to get them on their feet and possibly into home ownership when they move on if they wish it and they can also pay it forward.

@Ryan NunyaYou are correct that short-term rentals are a different animal for tax purposes than purely "rental" income as noted in the original post. 

I have both midterm and long term and they definitely are two different animals.