As he said, this prevents someone from coming back and claiming that under the pile of garbage was grandma's priceless ring and you threw it away.  

But it seems as if small individual owners could see us as an unnecessary expense until the next vacancy.

Hi Rob-To be clear, you are trying to get a loan to purchase an additional property, as your new primary residence, but your debt-to-income is preventing you from doing so?

Buying at or near retail prices and hoping to make a profit is a strategy some follow, but you take unnecessary market risk when you do so. 

It doesnt mean there is anything wrong w/ it, it just is they way they do things to prevent the property from going back on the market or things fall apart after taking it off. 

I want to do this with confidence and eliminate un-necessary trips that could become very costly and time consuming.

TreesThe City of Austin has a tree code that prevents building too close to some types of trees. 

Some will have deed restrictions that will prevent you from wholesaling the property (at least traditionally). 

Just because there is a gutter in place, this will not prevent water over flow.

Install landscaping that requires less water.Gadgets that help prevent water damage if water goes where it shouldn't be going: water alarms (place under kitchen sink, next to hot water heater, next to washing machine) and a "dwip" pan for under the dishwasher (if the dishwasher starts to leak, it forces the water away from the back of the cabinet and out onto the kitchen floor where it can be seen.)This is how we do it:Utilities that are variable (cost tied to use) - electricity, natural gas, and water/sewer - tenant paysUtilities that are fixed (flat fee) - garbage/recycling, yard debris - landlord pays (but we factor the cost into the rent.)In our city, both water/sewer and garbage/recycling will become a lien on the property if it is not paid.