It seems better to buy the property and have them rent - for depreciation, repairs as deductible etc.

(Yes, the new tax law limits you on how much you can deduct, so please check with your CPA.)Option #2 you are an investor. 

@Adam Kerr those costs would be deducted from gross revenue to determine the Net Operating Income (NOI), then you divide by the cap rate to determine the approxiamte value.

Could come from undervaluing the property, High Deductible, big liability loss, etc. 4. limit of liability.

If it is, then the power to levy property taxes is tightly controlled by state law and what a Municipality can forgive or arrange may also be controlled by MA statute.

This company had hidden charges; the first was $3,700 Cost of Registration fee, then they levied an additional fee of $17,500 for Fed Wire and upfront insurance.

I also make tenant have a renter's policy with liability insurance with me as additional interest, so if she has that, you'd have a copy of the policy and your insurance should be addressing this issue with her insurance, likely covering your deductible. 

I see 1 property, a quadruplex, has a "current tax levy" of $7,639.98 and that the owner paid $1,289.89 in February of this year.

The wording in the above does not mention differences between annual levies and how that proration works.

My understanding is that with these methodology, the owner (or the seller) retains the title until specific conditions are met, so the seller gets to claim all deductions and expenses until the title is transferred.