Not to get into another thread that died (let it) is that your observation of the timing to elections warrants a look at the motive.

There is no chance the zoning can change.What technique should I use to lower the price even more based on that observation - before the formal inspection? 

Here are a few observations; take them as you will:1.

I'm probably preaching to the choir here, but that's just something I've observed.

Or have your own funny REI observations?

For instance a Stab-Lok electrical panel: My verbiage is such:Electrical Distribution Panels: Main Panel Observations: 11.

These are just a couple of my observations on the LA market but I for one, am looking forward to the opportunities that will arise once we're back in a buyers market out here.

@Nick UhasWell, here's my observations/advice given what you shared:Unless your dad was a big fish and had operations that actually justified having 4 houses untouched and vacant that needed work, (I'd guess that to justify this level of stagnation, at any given time he'd need to be turning over 15-20 projects per year) - the takeaway from this fact was that your dad didn't have the understanding of cash flow/ value of money to motivate himself to get the projects done in the proper order (ie: finish one, then move on to the other etc).I mention this because you need to learn the lesson he did not, which is that you have holding costs on these houses and you need to get them done ASAP. 

The Department of Housing and Urban Development has been known to spot check FHA borrowers to make sure that they are observing the occupancy rule.This means, in theory, you could buy another multi-family property (4 or under units for FHA loans) every year on a new FHA loan as long as you moved into it.Make sure you spend some time soaking up all of the resources available on this sight.

He will give you a report with issues that he is able to visually observe