Plus you're allowed to prepay a certain percentage per year so it becomes even less of a factor when considering your loan options.

If you were owner occupying, the Homestyle loans allow a small percentage of the work to be done by the owner on SFRs, but it sounds like you're looking for an investment, so this wouldn't be an option.  

is it the same as smoking in a place that allowed smoking, but telling me she was a non-smoker?

There is a lot here to absorb, but don't allow yourself to get analysis paralysis.

I suspect that the repair to the stucco was not done properly allowing water to get in behind it.

Unfortunately, house hacking isn't much of an option for me, since my primary residence is in a neighborhood that doesn't allow rentals per the HOA.

@Nehemias Ponce  Lending Club and Prosper allow you to bid on partial notes for non secured high interest loans.  

Ok lots of miss information on this post as this is a CA foreclosure  not a Judicial sale like FLA or other states.1. if the first goes to sale with that equity position any money bid past the opening bid by the first will go to the second automatically.. there is no law suit in CA trustee sales its power of sale.2. the second once the foreclosure occurs both liens are removed.... from the property the second though does have the right to then sue on the note for a deficiency.. ( however Extremely rare on the west coast but it does happen).. but that just goes to the borrower not the property.3. if its a purchase money first thats being foreclosed no deficiency judgement is allowed.. its not like Texas were you can foreclose and get a judgement.  

Is there an agreement between owner and tenant that will not allow you to evict them?

Most pros i speak with havent a clue or say underwriters wont allow it.