If you can provide details on cities, mortgage products, resale / preconstruction properties, years it took, etc.

Now the product I offer is fundamentally different, a 24 hours active service when I used to be able to do maintenance anytime I wanted during business hours for the most part.   

The concerns you mention are valid and have definitely been considered.

The higher your score, the better your rate and I doubt they mention the self sustainability requirement for FHA when it comes to 3 and 4 units until you get pretty far into the transaction.You need a decent broker that can help you navigate the mortgage waters; not a bank or a clearinghouse because they don't have the breadth of products you need.  

There are some pretty nice discounts on many products and services offered as Perks to BP members that you might want to check out: https://www.biggerpockets.com/perks/proI really like the alerts feature that can quickly guide you to current topics that may be of interest: http://www.biggerpockets.com/alerts

However, if you're specifically set on one of those markets I'd recommend Kansas City - landlord friendly state, lower property taxes, increasing population and diverse economy, a good supply of potential rentals that product good cash flow with a decent chance of future appreciation.

Generally speaking, if the deed is valid (you'll need to review the requirements for a valid deed in the jurisdiction where the property is located), and he was the sole owner, then since the deed was executed and delivered, equitable title has already transferred to you and the property should not be subject to probate.

Make sure you check out all that this site has to offer.There are some pretty nice discounts on many products and services offered as Perks to BP members that you might want to check out: https://www.biggerpockets.com/perks/proI really like the alerts feature that can quickly guide you to current topics that may be of interest: http://www.biggerpockets.com/alerts

Make sure you check out all that this site has to offer.There are some pretty nice discounts on many products and services offered as Perks to BP members that you might want to check out: https://www.biggerpockets.com/perks/proIf you are looking to connect with other members near you, or want to learn from people in a specific area you’d like to invest in, or have a desire to find people interested in certain topics, you could use the search feature here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/search/users

From my understanding, the homestead exemption is valid as long as the homeowner lives on the property and uses it as the primary residence.