The frames are rotted, the lintels look like they've popped the stones/masonry and letting water through, and there's some sagging of the front porch (above these windows) causing a few cracks in the cement and more leaking into basement room below.

I run numbers on everything that pops up in MF just because I want the practice to be able to judge a property just by looking at it if its a good deal or not.

Are there lenders out there who actually research projects or do they all just pop them in the MLS and see what comes back?

It will go a lot smoother for you, if you have all your numbers calculated so that nothing pops up and surprises you.

Unless vets are considered to be so special that credit scores do not matter a 500 score will be no where good enough for any conventional bank loans.I would rent, with luck you may find a mom and pop landlord that does not care, then work to repair your score over the next couple of years.  

This is very common with hobby/mom and pop landlords.

This is the most lucurative, but its not really for home gamers or mom & pop investors. 

Why are so many ads popping up with RLNE#1234567 (example digits only!)

Its works for us at the moment, and the ever dwindling inventory and Mom and Pop owners, i believe everyone should be focusing their efforts on doing this as well. 

It can cost you up to 3-4K but any other treatment really doesn’t do the trick, they will pop up again eventually.