All extremely useful input. 

If the landlord was aware of his past, yet rented to him anyway - any lawyer worth their salt would make a nexus between those two pieces of information and create a liability claim.In addition to the extreme negative press you would get, it also takes time, money and energy to defend a lawsuit you will eventually win.

I understand, just saying flipping in Baltimore is extremely difficult, especially for someone just starting in this current market. 

Its caused him to go in to extreme debt and he just needs to get this handled. 

We want to buy it from him but he has not quieted the title.

If you're using your real estate license as a means to make the same/more as your W2, then you will face an uphill battle - unless you work extremely hard. 

MLS is quiet this time of year and I thought maybe I’d get lucky.

Tell them to come up with a solution to keep the dog quiet (eg doggie day care) or find a new place to live.I wouldn't care how long the barking is going on...if it is anything more than a one off, time to deal with it.

$400,000 seems extremely high for a rental property.

While we don't get significantly higher rents, we have extremely low turnover rates.