There water meter attachments you can buy that measures the amount of hot and or cold water you can put on the pipes that are going to their fixtures.. but I would bet it's a leak.. the water departments usually give you a one time break in that case   hire a plumber to do a pressure test starting at the meter 

If the answer doesn't involve an actual "show and tell" session, you can bet they will leave you hanging when you have actual money on the line. 

Your best bet if you want to rent in SC is to focus on 2-4plexes.

The people that enter into these often have poor financial management and are never able to get their financial lives in good enough shape to execute the purchase.

If you post what info you have, I bet you will get a few different ways to analyze it and then you take what you want and adapt it to your needs.

My credit score isn't the greatest (691), so I know this can poorly affect me with my interest rates (any other advice here will help)5.

In this case, your best bet is to still reach out directly to the institution that owns the loan to seek someone up the ladder that has the authority to make a deal. 

I am evaluating several areas in Austin, but I would like to look at data to help me evaluate which of these areas are surest bets for the types of year-to-year, room-by-room renters I'm looking for.

I bet he doesn't even realize he dodged a bullet on that one.

I'll bet the bank doesn't want the boat, they just want payments and on time.