Unless it is a new build, and it comes with purchase warranties are an extra cost and may or may not even be executed when needed depending on the circumstances. 

**Selecting Properties**: When choosing a property for Section 8, focus on neighborhoods with strong rental demand.

Remember, if a deal is truly off market, you have an owner who knows they are able to sell and is choosing not to take the very simple step of listing it.  

If you choose not to rebuild/replace your settlement would usually be for actual cash value.It's unlikely you can get a settlement for above the coverage amount you paid for.

I think this depends on your risk tolerance and your interest rate.  

As for your ques if to wait, well, it depends on the market, in some parts of the country prices are still going up, slower, but still going up, other parts the prices are coming down, you know that area, what is happening there? 

If your willing to do so, you can live in the casita and then rent out the main home and have your tenant pay the majority/all of the mortgage (depending on what type of deal you find obviously). 

A CPA who specializes in partnership issues can also likely talk through these issues with you.3) Depending on the size of the deal - Keep It Simple - the number of really complex agreements that come across my desk for a $500k property is crazy, and it ends up costing as much to do those tax returns as a comparable $5m deal

The breakeven math is very important and I think it also depends on your cash needs.

That higher interest will be a lower cost than the closing costs for the refinance so a net gain (depending on your new loan size).