That property is literally screwed.The real answer to your questions is it depends on what is common and accepted in that area.

Rochester has a lot more in common with Buffalo than, say, Troy or the Hudson Valley.If we're getting that specific, there are a few more areas to consider.AdirondaksNorth Country - Watertown, Potsdam, etc.Long Island (very different than NYC)The Finger LakesWith that many regions, I think it's better to just use city names rather than regions.

This is common in my area/Colorado in general especially the ski towns that still allow short term rentals. 

Needs and Wants:What are some common needs and wants that rent-by-the-room tenants face?

No update of common area finishes although clean and well maintained.

This is exactly what the "far right" talks about all the time, except it's not "far right," it's common sense.

Good on you for using some common sense and intuition.“… do private lenders typically have a website or any way to verify who they are?

in your state is open house common ? 

What are the common fears of investors who write checks to capital raisers? 

.#2 More Privacy for Tenants:With single-family homes and ADUs, tenants get the advantage of more privacy and independence compared to multifamily properties where tenants share common spaces.