Do those two items above 100% dictate needing a total gut or can a home be sold with the panel and the pipes how they are and can it be financed?

The main items that need to be specifically outlined are your expected time on market for the property and the minimum amount that you're willing to accept for rent.

It was totally weird he had one room full of religious items and one room full of tapes toys and magazines.

I know there are the obvious PITIA items but what about property management fees (I plan on using a property manager), maintenance/repair allowance, and vacancy allowance?

Credit scores are tricky because there could be items like medical debt or student loan debt that weighs the score down. 

The other important item to consider is keeping your Credit score above 680, this gives you the opportunity to refinance without tax returns into a 30 year fixed rate Rental Loan, or DSCR Loan. 

They may be living there but as long as the rent is paid, the house is taken care and the lease is followed, I don't worry about it.To answer a few other items that came up - some of my rents are higher than market, some are even with market and a couple are lower. 

Honestly, not what you want to hear, but take photos of the damage, send them an itemized invoice and tell them what they owe you.

Probably based on this "Within 21 days after move-out, the landlord must send the tenant an itemized statement explaining in detail any deductions from the security deposit (unless they total less than $125), and return the rest of the deposit."

If he meets all of the criteria what makes you inquire about his military status impacting him/her as a tenant?