I looked at some land in Tampa awhile back but their zoning seemed a bit more strict so we stuck to our market since I wasn't local. 

Quote from @Dalton Summers: Hope this helps. https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-4735.24(A) Except as otherwise provided in this section, when earnest money connected to a real estate purchase agreement is deposited in a real estate broker's trust or special account, the broker shall maintain that money in the account in accordance with the terms of the purchase agreement until one of the following occurs:(1) The transaction closes and the broker disburses the earnest money to the closing or escrow agent or otherwise disburses the money pursuant to the terms of the purchase agreement.(2) The parties provide the broker with separate written instructions that both parties have signed that specify how the broker is to disburse the earnest money and the broker acts pursuant to those instructions.(3) The broker receives a copy of a final court order that specifies to whom the earnest money is to be awarded and the broker acts pursuant to the court order.(4) The earnest money becomes unclaimed funds as defined in division (M)(2) of section 169.02 of the Revised Code and, after providing the notice that division (E) of section 169.03 of the Revised Code requires, the broker has reported the unclaimed funds to the director of commerce pursuant to section 169.03 of the Revised Code and has remitted all of the earnest money to the director.

These are professionals with additional training and a stricter code of ethics.

As the tax code is concerned all of the costs to create your rental property business (buying it and making it usable for it's intended use) and one in the same. 

Subchapter D of Chapter 5 of the Texas Property Code@Ryan Mcpherson  Stay away from Sub2 Sharks. 

In my 30 years doing this I’ve found that as long as you address each issue that comes up properly and do the repair needed to bring that part of the building up to current code then you will be fine.

They will know the code, etc., and have relationships at the City.

Usually I use smartlocks, but for this type of volume, I'm thinking more typical locks that have a set of codes. 

When's the last time you say a panhandler saying "will code for food?"

Take a look at the CA building codes including for earthquakes and local cities can have their own as well.