Prior to COVID I was preparing for a  mini vacation to Mammoth Lakes and then to Florida.

TISH is what you'd be looking for to assess code violations, etc; however, these reports are typically only completed immediately prior to selling the property (must have a TISH report to list).I'm sure a few other municipalities throughout the Twin Cities offer this online; however, Minneapolis has the best database I'm aware of.

If you get notice prior to inspections, you could pre-inspect to make sure there is not a bed and dressers in the room.

As such, you would like for him/her to seek another tenant - that is acceptable to you - that will have a signed lease in place prior to closing. 

So let's say the tax sale is April 1, the county will contact you a few days prior and ask if you want to pay.

The prior owner never had leases, so we had them write something up and get it signed for each tenant.

I recently got out of the military here (prior F-35 and F-15E pilot). 

Prior to coronavirus, X.00% was at a cost of 0.14% of the loan amount in points/fees/whatever, for you basic vanilla owner occ 800 FICO 20% down <$510k loan amount type scenario. 

Has anyone had prior experience with either? 

I was a property manager for about 4 years prior to going out on my own.