Currently a full-time Department Supervisor for an Oil & Gas Inspection Company, knowledge of Real Estate is not my strong point. 

While you're budgeting for your move, consider that the cost-of-living is expensive near the coast (especially gas prices) and taxes tend to be higher, too.    

But I personally would never include energy/gas in a tenant's rent.I'm guessing you do still need to have some type of insurance for the unit, especially since you are financing. 

After that conversation, send them an e-mail with the offer drafted, because later down the road if that seller changes their mind on the price you would hold more weight if you tried to pursue the change.Also, try to get the e-mail signed, or at least an Esignature on the document, for validity. 

I think we would be remiss to not include the oil and gas industry as a driving force for bring jobs to this area. 

I identified with the required time frame and I had listed a DST as a fail safe just in case something came up during the due diligence period, and sure enough an adjacent gas station's tanks were leaking benzine and the water flow was heading on to my land and ultimately the lender, even after a fairly decent phase 2 report from the engineers would not loan so I ended up buying into the DST which was not my first choice but still provided quarterly cash flow and appreciation.  

Are the controls for the kitchen range on the front within easy reach (such as with most gas ranges) or higher up to the back (as with most electric ranges)?

The existing heating system is an old steam boiler burning natural gas. 

Wouldn't "educational status" - i.e. whether or not you’re in school be a perfectly valid reason to refuse someone housing based on the law? 

Another trick is to figure out what your mortgage payment and expenses would be after you buy, subtract out your rent, and autotransfer the difference from checking to savings every month on the 1st ... this helps save money, validates that you can afford what you'd like to buy, and show you the effect it would have on you financially.