They're only required to repay you for health, safety, preservation of the property....fixing broken windows, roof leaks, locks, etc.#3. 

Manager said when they replace unit they replace flue because shape on new ones is different and/or Dept of Bldg and Safety require it.  

I get low DP, being creative and all that, but I bet skipping proper title DD on top of not knowing how to handle hazard or title insurance beneficiaries will blow you up. 

Many things go wrong in construction, some of which are unavoidable, how the contractor handles those issues is paramount and speaks volumes to their abilities (or lack there of in the cases above).There are no short cuts to construction or dealing with the building and safety/planning departments in cities, they are slower than turtles in almost all cases.

Explain that it is a shared space, odor, health hazard, whatever.

You are better to pay for a better insurance policy, do things right to limit your risk, (LLCs, fix things that are broken or hazards) and to treat your tenants right so that they don't want to sue you.

Here are some specific questions I have, but any additional information is welcome:Safety and Community Feel: How do locals view the safety and overall community vibe in Pine Hills?

If you're applying for a Conventional/FHA/VA/ or USDA loan, then they will do a "global cash flow" where they take into account your PITI (Principal + Interest + Taxes + Insurance (hazard and flood) on all properties (second mortgages included), HOA payments, car payments, student loan payments, credit card payments, and installment loan payments in the numerator and your gross income in the denominator.

If it’s a safety issue, I’ll of course make sure the premises are as safe as they were before any required maintenance was done, but she is now suggesting that if I don’t reimburse her for those specific anchors, I am violating fair housing laws for familial status and/or tenants rights regarding not incurring costs for required repairs.

A landlord does not need to provide a reasonable accommodation for an emotional support animal when:The property is an owner-occupied building with four or fewer unitsThe property is a single-family home sold or rented by the owner without the use of an agentThe emotional support animal poses a risk to the health or safety of other people, or a risk of substantial damage to property (but this risk must be specific to the animal and cannot be based solely on assumptions about the animal’s breed)"Definitely have a chat with a local attorney to ensure your local laws apply, nonetheless since its an owner occupant, it sounds like you have some recourse to deny this request.