I own a small duplex and have attempted to manage it myself, had some good and bad.

You can attempt to probate the property yourself.

This may simply be the current owner not wanting to buy a downspout because they're selling it, and it's at least an attempt to keep water away from the foundation, but that might also be telling you that water comes in on that corner.This is tricky to do, but if you can schedule an inspection or visit an open house right after it's rained a lot, you can sometimes see if the basement has a water problem.  

I've been on the lookout for years for a financial endeavor that could provide us a secure future and provide for our daughter once we are gone (morbid I know).

While I will have funds in reserve outside of real estate endeavors, I would prefer not to have them sitting in equity.In a situation like this, I'm curious what the best I can hope for on the LTV is for both OO and as an investment property.

That's probably her defense mechanisms attempting to defend her mistake.

I have a question regarding providing proof of Employment when attempting to get an FHA loan.

I want to do everything I can to learn now and set this future endeavor into motion. 

I estimate hundreds of people had been inside the property between all the sales attempts.

I estimate hundreds of people had been inside the property between all the sales attempts.