Drive by, street by street to get a good feel.

The regulations are basically 1) You must be the permanent resident of the unit you wish to rent, 2) You must be registered with the City as a business and as a short-term rental, and 3) You may only rent 90 unhosted nights per year.

Driving for dollars, attending REIAs, you name it and I've most likely dabbled with it in some form or another.

These are basic mistakes. 

The fact they are complaining online might be an indication the property manager dealt with them properly so be sure to ask the manager for their side of the story.I hope this basic guide helps.

I am under contract on a quadplex near a university that is 4 hour drive from me.

@Rob Gervais  Getting some 3D Renderings and basic floor plans with details could help communicate your thoughts to the GC which would ultimately save you money and also could help you get through the permit process.  

once you drive off, they curse your existence. 

Again, this number may not seem like much but I don’t think it looks that bad: this investment basically gives me the opportunity to put to work an amount at an annualized rate of 9% for 30 years.

When dealing with a seller you will need to obtain:-Current Rent Roll-2-3 years of Profit and Loss StatementsThese are the two most basic elements in beginning to "pre underwrite" a loan for multifamily.