as opposed to their residential counterparts. that's what i heard. 

That would be pouring gasoline on a fire. 

As long as demand remains high for apartments, landlords will be able to continue to raise families’ housing costs.High rent prices may be affecting other areas of the economy, keeping households from spending their savings from tumbling gasoline prices.

Then charge something every month, even if just gasoline, and pay it on time.  

I am a hands-on type of investor - I can do a a lot of projects myself, but I am a woman and I am not as 'physically' strong as my counterparts, yet I know how to get things done.

Like I said, call it the blind leading the blind, and I hope some of our more experienced counterparts hop on here to help us out...lolGood luck on your first deal.  

And then there is the matter of are they actually getting kerosene in their "red container" or if by chance that "red container" has gasoline (for say a lawn mower or snow thrower) ...

Other than liwering the rent and advertising on craigslist, I don't know what else to do from another state when I've hired counterparts to takee care of it for me.Anyone have any suggestions?

.* Actively listen, so your counterpart feels heard* Mirror them to keep them talking and continuing to feel heard* Use the late night FM DJ voice* Label their feelings* Anchor their emotions* Never use Why questions* Define an approaching deadline* Pivot to non-monetary terms* Establish a range and use odd numbers, so they seem calculated and immovable

It's not unusual, particularly if they're told they will be released soon.You can sign a contract electronically, by fax, in counterpart, etc while you are on vacation as long as it's included in the contract that signatures in that format are acceptable.You're trying to sell a co-op in a market that favors buyers, in what is historically one of the slowest times of the year, to a "rock solid" buyer that your broker procured.