Understanding the tax benefits of pre-tax contributions, cost recovery, real estate professional status, legacy goals, etc are all part of the equation and should be considered. 

I teach CE/CPE for several tax organizations at conferences and online so I talk to A LOT of tax professionals.

It may be worth having an experienced professional helping you and you could always try to get the seller to pay your agent’s fees.

I've always gotten the "feeling" that they are trying to do the right thing.1 or 2 clients having an issue with a builder is understandable. 15 is at best, professional negligence.

HVAC is old but functions - ask for seller to get them professionally serviced if it is not done yearly. 

This could give you more insight into their professionalism and reliability.Would you like help with crafting your questions for them or diving deeper into any of these points?

Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

Investing in a property that’s already renovated, rented, and professionally managed could allow you to start generating passive income immediately without the added expenses of house hacking.What’s most important for you in this first deal—cash flow, appreciation, or long-term stability?

Having said that, since you're a newbie my strong suggestion is to go thru a professional initially.  

@Daniel MadhavapallilYou should hire a tax professional.