-Local governments will continue to increase barriers to entry Local zoning ordinance and housing requirements will continue to get more stringent to "make housing more affordable" and to "prevent the evil greedy developers from making too much money".

Delaying close will trigger the inherited tenant’s unattractive lease to auto-renew for a year (I need to serve notice by end of February to prevent that).

It is a good preventative measure to take.

Is there something in your background that prevents you from obtaining a RE License in Texas?

You could also check to see who other owners have uses and who your agent recommends.Just because you start a claim with your company, you are not prevented from also putting a claim in if you find that she has coverage.   

The sump pump was broken and the drain pipe inside of the basin where the water pools up is clogged.

Clogged toilets are a normal part of being a landlord and the cost of doing business. 

She had a week to have evaluation done to prevent from having it escalated with the board.

That will make things cleaner all the way around and prevent you from starting from scratch at each new transaction.

I also cannot prevent them from researching and comparing prices for the property that might be available there or on other sites.