Seems the times have changed and it is no longer done that way.I tried searching online for photos, everything about these straps and install method date back to the 2000 timeframe, same as when I did it. 

The town-homes sold during the 2010 / 2011 time frame at sales prices between $150,000 and $170,000.

The tenant just signed a new 1 year lease but has also complained that the driveway needs relaying and that the deck is falling to pieces so guess this is a ploy to start negotiations on selling price.I understand that they pay the rent for a given time, plus extra that we hold as a deposit/down payment so assume I can get that contract drawn up by a real estate attorney who can also work on closing once the agreed upon timeframe ends (is this better than a realtor or should I just go with one and pay the 5%?

So some of this depends on the timeframe you want to hold. 5 more months of a “bad” lease matters far more of you want to own for 4 years compared to 40.

By resistance I mean an inability to get a definitive answer on if our properties qualify, what steps need to be taken, and time frame. 

When doing the refinance portion, is it the bank or the FHA that requires the 6 month seasoning time frame?

I got it back in the Novemberish timeframe and they have 0% balance transfer fees for the first 60 days with a 0% APR for 15 months. 

@Max Keller Great question on my holding timeframe. 

@Andreas Mirza I'm a big believer in IRR as a metric, but it's only meaningful over at least a medium-term (multi-year) time frame. 

Should I request this years and last years tax delinquent list (both before foreclosure - what's a good time frame, current and last years list?)