First you need to learn to separate the following:Maintenance: usually things related to wear & tear or tenant damage.Repairs: usually broken items like doors & windows, caused by tenant or nature.Capital Improvements: usually expensive things that wear out: hot water tanks, furnaces, roofs, etc.The seller is correct that Repairs & Capital Improvement items should not be a factor for awhile (ALWAYS get your own inspection to confirm).

I just do not want to take this possibility off the table if it could help us really get moving in terms of number of doors we have rented out (a 2/3/4 door rental is an exponential increase in our cash flow, compared to the single family home we are planning to buy first). 

.● Part of the patio on the east side of the garage has a negative slope.

Quote from @Kevin Zmick:One of the advices I read above was to be a bit less discerning perhaps and get someone in the door for 6 months at a reduced rate, and then find my golden tenant in the summer.

Mark down all the multis you see by looking for two or more doors in front or multiple air handlers outside or gas meters.

Currently, I own 26 doors and run a property management company that oversees 350+ units.

With high price per door and high rates, you wont find any cash flow.STR market is also very saturated and we're seeing more regulation there.I'd keep the end goal bigger multifamily deals.

@Sunil Kale you're making this more compliacted than necessary.Follow @Nathan Gesner's outline and have your agent post a Legal Entry Notice on the door.

One city near me is checking all garage enclosures, giving nice notice to get them permitted, which they may or may not grant, and if you don't get it properly permitted by December 31, says they will start fining people. 

It wouldn’t be surprising if they were forced to close their doors entirely.I’ve also heard horror stories about lenders backing out of deals at the last minute, leaving clients with significant financial losses and lost opportunities.