Forms they should have asked me for up front were asked for AFTER declaring my file as complete.

Any advice for me or lessons learned?

For me it depends on the interest rate. 

Maybe someone can clarify for me.

Would probably be better that I buy from a builder, I just find it less appealing buying at retail when I'm looking for cash flow...I'm spoiled from having a $1000+ cash flowing property already, so if I'm not hitting that number, it's not going to work for me.

I might have got it from decades ago of listening to Nanci Griffith and other folk troubadours.)In case you wanted just a touch more detail on why pre-approval is not so bueno on VRBO (but for me, is fine on AirBnb), here's my old post on it:https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/530/topics/1223156-less...That 72-hour hold bites.

I also don't want refinancing risk, so any deals with only 3 to 5 year debt are out for me.

On the disclosure form, the seller had indicated “no” to any known damages.

Luckily for me the state of Florida has state level protection which bars municipalities from passing new or amending their existing laws.That said, I am seeing cities like City of Saint Pete crack down and are enforcing their laws for the first time in years.  

For me, if I wasted even half a day trying to find one rather than buying this one it just would not have made sense.