If you tour the property and it looks like a good investment, then I would move forward with an offer that included a discount price based on the cost of eviction.

They also (occasionally as it is hit and miss) send me copies of photos from the move out inspection.

They bought this with unclear goal and was just plainly seeing this as a future investment for us.  

The downstairs unit (1 bed/1 bath) I'm currently living in but I need to move back to Los Angeles at the end of the month.

My wife currently stays home with our 3 children and I work a mid-level corporate job ($76K salary), so my DTI ratio is high.I have identified 30 properties in my area that are either vacant land or are occupied but make some sense to slice off 7-12 acres for this move.

Two on the lease decided to move out while one has not.

Where is a large manufacturer moving to?

I always had a roommate when we moved in.

Did your tenant file federal accommodation paperwork before she moved in? 

You want to minimize taxes.Not only these are separate goals, they can pull you in opposite directions, so you will have to prioritize.