I do keep my property in good condition and I bet I can manage whatever repairs that will pop up in the future if tenets occupied it. 

Alexandria city's zoning regulations do not apply to 22309 which is Fairfax County @John VandivierYour best bet is to call the zoning department of Fairfax County. 

If you get a vetted, high quality tenant that is likely to be a safe bet to make money, would you reduce rent in order to close the deal? 

Private money bet on the horse not the jockey.   

If you've got asbestos in the wallboard compound, all bets are off.

Making it difficult for them to enter the house and consistent annual inspections are your best bets.

That might be your best bet. 

If you and the seller can't have a meeting of minds in the middle, great you move onto the next one.FHA on MFR, especially with our older housing stock in the Bay Area, it's a giant unknown if you can even get the property until the appraisal is back.More generally your best bet for using FHA to buy a MFR in the Bay Area will be to go find something off market where you aren't in competition with multiple other buyers putting 30% down, etc.

If you want to give a W-9, you bet they will charge you double, and you will be  shock.

If they're not paying their taxes either, it's a good bet the financing is in default also, though this is not always the case.Really, anything on the foreclosure timeline up to about 60 days prior to the auction would be good, I think.