If this is a foreclosed property (you said Fannie Mae was the seller), your agent should know if your state has limits on back HOA dues if you're buying a foreclosed property.   

Many people who have been foreclosed and evicted from their homes will rent the home to tenants to collect whatever money they can, knowing they have no power to honor the lease (also usually month to month).

But California law limits the reasons for landlord entry. 

I am sure there is a lot of risk with it, but I think some research could limit it a bit.

Landlords should operate as a business to maximize their return and limit liability, but the business is still customer service.

Deferring even for a bit can still be a powerful thing.

Seems like there is a strong lobby and substancial economic power behinde this. 

Luckily, the single family property I'd owned since 2012 and just sold last year provided about $60K of that (which was a great example of the power of real estate considering I'd only put $12K down on it five years earlier).I plan to use the BRRR method going forward to make my money go further.

From my limited research I see that it is an online real estate brokerage with zero monthly costs, and an 85/15 commission split. 

But the power to use that tax to buy additional property is tremendous.