In my neck of the woods, the housing authority sends an inspector out to every section 8 property every year.

Claims on small items can (but may not always) make it more difficult to collect on large items and/or to get the policy renewed; small claims may also put upward pressure on your future premiums.

In the historic district the front windows must be all wood.

Unless you feel like you were negligent in some way, like the tree branches were hanging and maybe you should have trimmed them, or they were rotting or something...don't go searching for reasons for your premium to go up...my advice is to stay out of it. 

My lender is stating that they are using the base price of 172k as the purchase price and excluding the auction premium.  

I don't have too much experience with multifamily but would love to hear any thoughts on that strategy in our neck of the woods.

With my own tenants, knock on wood, I am at 100% "good."

They are on commission onlyWhen you talk to the owner of the auction company, let them know that you are actively involved in real estate and would they consider hiring you on a part time bases and pay you a commission for every transaction you bring them.Make sure you have something in writing as to the amount they will pay you.Ask if you can become an auctioneer associate, ask if they will train you and if you can your their facilities to help get leadsMy auctioneer associate's average earnings is about $90,000 a yearUse the Control and Roll system to increase your income.......that is control a property at a price that you feel you can sell for more, put it up for auction (while working for the auction company) and sell it for more, ( Example: your contract offer ----with special clauses and disclosures---is for $100,000, you book the property with your auction company and sell it at auction for $115,000, you make $15,000 equity plus 25% of the buyers premium commission paid to you form the auction company. 

This way you are not wasting premiums on several lower limit policies and can get 1 policy with a higher $5M or $10M limit.

Can't speak for everyone, but I would pay a premium for that functionality.