We have had a Strctural Engineer out to the property and while we don't need to conduct repairs within the next 5 years or so, we will need to address both of these things at some point and it will likely cost us about 100k.Any advice on selling or holding for the long term?

They can provide guidance on potential legal options and rights concerning the city’s demands and the lender.Negotiate with the City:Seek Extensions or Variances: Your friend can request an extension on the deadline to comply or apply for variances that might allow the property to meet less stringent requirements.Explore Grants or Subsidies: Check if there are any local, state, or federal grants or subsidies available for renovating older properties, especially those providing low-income housing.Engage with the Lender:Discuss Financial Hardship: Present the case to the lender, explaining the situation and the financial hardship imposed by the new building codes.Propose a Loan Modification: Suggest modifying the loan terms, such as extending the loan period, reducing interest rates, or even deferring payments temporarily.Negotiate a Short Sale: If the property must be demolished and rebuilt, your friend can discuss the possibility of a short sale where the lender agrees to accept less than the owed amount to avoid foreclosure.Explore Refinance or New Loans:Seek New Financing Options: Look for other financial institutions or private lenders willing to provide financing for renovation or rebuilding.

We are not first time home buyers but have three single family homes ( rental) properties in California but want to buy our first apartment complex out of state for generating  cash flow for the long term.

I like the idea of short/mid term rentals more then the long term...one big reason is not having to move all of his stuff...or at least being able to take my time.

Don't reduce rent for longer terms.

Hopefully, this provides perspective.Keep in mindThe Fed started hiking rates in March 2022, and only stopped tightening in July 2023, having lifted short-term interest rates by 525 basis points or 5.25%.Average 30-yr mortgage rates started moving aggressively upward a bit earlier (in January 2022) and only peaked (at just over 8%) in October 2023.

Most who  lean in the direction of taking ownership in their name do so because they may get slightly better terms on their financing for non owner occupied real estate which is not even the case if the individual is bankable with a half decent balance sheet.

I'd love to try the mid term rental strategy with the property we find.

I'm diving into the world of short term rentals and looking for some advice on the best ways to research local regulations in different towns and cities within a state.

I understand, this will work well long term if or when I begin investing in residential properties.