My wife and I just closed on a duplex in Oakland, but the basement/garage was already converted into a separate living space with a bedroom and bathroom.

Your question asking for detailed loan estimates from multiple lenders at the preapproval stage with  "exact cost to close" is very problematic. 

I learned so much along the way, including navigating the legal process needed to remove previous owners (squatters) who did not want to leave.

If you have a claim (and a pool is a ticking time bomb for a claim), your insurance company and their legal counsel will want you to provide all evidence of pool upkeep, including the grounds area.

How does that work when you are not yet the legal owner of the property?

Quote from @Sarah Ali: The seller has a contract with the agent, which means they can't legally sell the property without compensating the agent.

Just closed on a couple of properties a week or so ago.  

The salesperson says, put it in the closing statement or underwriting template somewhere.

Otherwise they just run around and bid projects for people that don't close.

You’ll need to treat it like a business—handling tenant management, accounting, legal compliance, property maintenance, and more.That said, when done correctly, it’s a powerful tool for building wealth!