This on addresses your specific 2nd qeustion.The question is not whether clearing the jungle qualifies as a preservation improvement, it is whether you are even allowed to recover for preservation improvements at all with that property. 

Year of update of the systems (roof, plumbing, electric, heat)4. any pets, pools, tranpolines, or business use at any locationThey will usually need more specifics but this is a good start. 

It should return basic economic and demographic data but rental data, SFR data per zip codes is a pretty niche area of the internet.Big proptech data companies have some of that but it’s sparse.

or the split model where guest pays part of that …Anyone have specific experience on these two issues?

I'm also trying to get an answer on this, but seems like there are far more assumable commercial loans than there are residential, but from what I can tell, it's just a case by case sort of thing and you have to check within the loan docs or with the original lender to find out if it applies to a specific loan. 

Here's my advice: Section 8 isn't inherently good or bad; it depends on your comfort with risks, your experience level, and the specific property.

So, the first question they usually ask a PMC is about fees - instead of asking about services and HOW those services are executed.EXAMPLE: PMC states they will handle tenant screening – what does that specifically mean?

@Robert Maxwell, my advice: listen to the first 300 episodes of the BiggerPockets Podcast and then return to forums when you have a specific question.

Find a specific niche that you are interested in, find a mentor and then educate yourself.  

I specifically asked him to talk to the underwriters to make sure the STR would lend.