The place is growing, but it still looks desolate, streets are mostly without asphalt, people just go there mostly on winter time from the north for vacation, so the town is pretty quite on summer time, and looks like renters does not stay long.

If you have a contractor that can do inexpensive asphalt roofs, the material should only cost you about 120/square.

Does it increase property value substantially when compared to an asphalt roof?

.$65/sq is close what I pay for asphalt, standard slope roof.  

He told me about the moss problems they have with asphalt shingle roofs.

One takes concrete and asphalt only, the other concrete, brick and possibly asphalt, I believe..........for FREE.

If the price is right, I find (for rentals) if they are doing drive by's and not coming inside or doing showings, something with curb appeal could be awry or a neighboring trashed property could be repelling lookers.You said you bought raw land and developed it, so it may or may not have the amenities of a standard subdivision (sidewalks, streetlights, even pavement, parks etc)..

I already was planning on fixing the asphalt, but someone commented on the lack of lighting outside at night.

So thats one of the reasons investors like bird dogs not to mention the convience factor of having someone else beat the pavement for you at the same time making you look legit as an investor because you dont show up until there is a deal to be made.

lets use an asphalt shingle roof as an example that we will use 15 year life (in Texas I would think this is fairly accurate).