Combine that with also differences at the county levels as well, and it is simply too hard to say title and real estate work a certain way in the USA.

If you’re doing a smaller electrical upgrade, you can get away with battery smoke detectors on each floor and a CO (combination or both CO and smoke) within 15’ of the bedrooms.

The title company is supposedly trying to combine it before the sale but the sale won't be contingent on that.

Look for an agent who write a lot of Professional Liability and they will probably be able to find a market for your combined business.

The properties, combined, have an approximate value of $170k. 

I'd bump up to 15% combined.

So that’s $30,000 per million dollars worth of real estate you own, which when combined with expenses the properties generate,  takes us to owing no taxes on over $200,000 in “passive” income a year. 

Is it a combination of what you like about an area combined with factors that would contribute to good CF properties/good appreciation?  

Do they try some combination of reinforcing “behavior in other people’s houses” and limits?

I usually like ~15% combined with repairs.Water/sewer is low.