If it was that easy, I'd just take the simple test and hang my shingle out underwriting seller financed notes for everyone!

So you have a house with 20 year shingles, and that roof was last replaced 25 years ago.

3 tab shingle should last 20 - 25 years, an Architectural shingle should last 25 - 30 years

Hi Alex, getting some tax experience at a smaller firm or hanging your own shingle will teach you a heck of a lot more about real estate as it applies to 99% of people on BiggerPockets than you would learn at a larger firm.  

Even if you're lucky and nothing expensive like a roof goes bad during your ownership, a prospective buyer may balk at buying at your price if their inspection turns up a roof with many cracked and curling shingles that is clearly at the end of life, or a 30 year old furnace.

Shingles?

I'm looking at a house with 2 different colored roof shingles.

The owner is selling his home due to a divorce and just wants to get out of the house (good sign of a motivated seller in my opinion) There is a little work that needs to be done (roof tared and garage shingled) other than that the house is in good shape.

Ended up negotiating to have the seller pay to have it replaced if I payed for the cost of tearing off the old shingles.

Been reading about underwriters soon becoming computerized which would essentially look at your credit, your income, ask about any suspicious activity (only asking once!)