The seller/buyer can always claim you tricked them and had superior experience and knowledge. 

But if they change the CC&R's to restrict STR's after you buy, you can still run the STR, according to a 2022 judge ruling in the AZ Superior Court.

In Georgia the notice states "Said property will be sold subject to (a) any outstanding ad valorem taxes (including taxes which are a lien, but not yet due and payable), (b) any matters which might be disclosed by an accurate survey and inspection of the property, and (c) all matters of record superior to the Security Deed first set out above, including, but not limited to, assessments, liens, encumbrances, zoning ordinances, easements, restrictions, covenants, etc.

Probate records are available in county superior court some counties are free some are three dollars to print a page. 

There are situations where selling financing is the superior solution so seek out those situations instead of having a hammer and everything looks like a nail. 

I'm not embarrassed to be called a landlord and don't view myself as some superior being lording it over the little people.

As far as the area, it's an island in Lake Superior.

Look in Superior Court and in Federal Court of anywhere they did business and at IRS judgments and liens. 

Flat out, no. in California, you are subject to any superior liens and cannot assume them.

If you have the education & creativity, you can accomplish the same and many times, superior results of owning real estate, simply by structuring them appropriately to greatly improve liquidity & reduce risk.