Question from the other side, appreciate your help:House owner was trying to sell his house but didn't get good offers so he rented it out to me, we signed a lease and I gave him the security deposit.Later before move-in, the owner said the house was in a contingent sale which the owner cancelled but the buyer didn't and the buyer fulfilled his conditions and he wants to move forward with the saleWhat are my options as a tenant, move in date not reached yet and owner saying sorry go find another place to rent?

Construction and heavy reno will create/reveal problems you didn't know existed, have a healthy contingency and stomach.Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

Normally folks in those price points simply dont have the money to fully litigate and no attorney is going to take it on contingency.. so you basically out spend them  and then you guys settle.

I always go in with offers contingent on inspection.

The contract only had 1 contingency-the home inspection.

Also have a contingency plan and risk reduction plan.

I built into my analysis of each property monthly deposits into that account to cover those contingencies.  

There is likely a phone number and persons name that will come up, that you can reference, since he is having bills that arrive to the mailbox and packages to the door with his name on them.You could make it a pre-condition to the seller that he allow a background check on the tenant before closing and your offer is contingent on your approval.Neighbors typically know what's going on in the neighborhood and will know who the guy is and if he is a trouble maker.He probably has a car and a private detective can run the plates.And so on.The information is readily available is the knowledge is worth knowing.

- What are the typical/favorite contingencies do you add for four-plex property?

Look at historic appreciation, aim high, but allow for an appraisal contingency.