However, this deal does not come close to acceptable cash flow for me.    

When an offer is accepted take the paperwork to a title company to open escrow, put down earnest money, inspect the trio and title reports, get the professional inspections you’d like to have done, negotiate the deal if necessary from your due diligence, make sure your financing is in place, and then close on the deal at the scheduled closing time.Take the keys and then get to work.

Hopefully there's some verbiage in the lease about accepting the condition of the property as is.

It wasn't a lot of standing water and the spots were dry, but I would've accepted a simple "We don't know" in response from the agent/seller.I also wanted to know an estimate of the age of the roof and water heater.

Current Situation:My offer has been accepted and I have 9 days of due diligence remaining.My Ask:Without reading “The Book on Investing in Real Estate with No (or Low) Money Down” YET...What are some methods/strategies to lower my upfront costs for the down payment, while not getting beat up on interest rates?

Regular landscaping/yard care (mowing, edging, trimming, fertilizer, weed control) will be provided by ____(check one)____ [   ] Landlord  [   ]  Tenant .For all Tenants:a.Tenant agrees to keep yards, walkways, patios and decks clear and to keep premises free of junk and debris.b.Tenant accepts liability for all landscape damage and/or replacement of such, if caused by neglect, abuse or lack of water.c.Tenant may plant the beds adjacent to their dwelling to their liking, but only with those plants that are of appropriate size and type for the beds.All plants brought or caused to be brought to the property by Tenant will be cared for by Tenant.d.Tenant agrees not to cut or prune trees, hedges and shrubs.This will be Landlord’s responsibility.e.Tenant agrees to properly dispose of all plant debris and agrees to not leave such on the property.f.Landlord will consider special Tenant requests for planting and removal of plants, shrubbery and trees, but reserves the right to determine the make-up of the landscaping.g.Tenant agrees not to grow marijuana on the premises, indoors or outdoors.For Tenants of single family homes only: a.Tenant agrees to mow, water, and keep the grass, lawn, flowers and shrubbery thereon in good order and condition, applying fertilizers and weed retardant as needed. b.If Tenant fails to keep the landscaping in good order and to follow these guidelines, Landlord reserves the right to hire a landscaping service at Tenant’s expense (after a 10-day notice to perform covenant).c.Landlord reserves the right to restore the landscaping to its initial condition, as it was at the time Tenant began occupancy, or if improved during Tenant’s occupancy, to the level of such improvement.

Accept a 10k fee and move on. 

My belief is that RE allows for exploiting this inefficiency, as long as you're willing to accept the inherent risk.

Invest in my nest deals in my fund that are proven & still accepting money.

Take your weight loss a couple pounds at a time and don't accept retreat.