It looks like the holding time can be prolonged by the long time it takes a 203K to be approved.

This tends to prolong the process and I have lost out on tenants due to that.   

Improvements add value to the home, prolong its life, or adapt it to a new use.

I figured it could be easier on all parties to avoid prolonging the process any further (foreclosure auction is scheduled for July 2015).  

I started the exact same way, except I found that by not acting when i was ready I was just prolonging my enrollment into the school of hard knocks.

Cold weather heat pumps use better (scroll) compressors with inverters to reduce the frequency of thaw cycles.One of the most promising newer ideas for cold-weather is a Canadian designed heat-pump where the compressor sits inside and just the coil and fan assembly sites outside ... this eliminates the freeze up and allows prolonged operation at low (sub-freezing) temperatures.Even in our nasty winters where we will have a week or two where temperatures do not climb above -20C and we are reliant on ancillary heat, the heat pump still comes out ahead over the entire heating season.  

We identified a need for first responders, locals needing to quarantine and travelers who happen to prolong their stay due to traveling restrictions.

If their inspection finds the roof in acceptable shape they may be able to service it and prolong its life for another few years at a fraction of the cost.

I wouldn't prolong the conversation with them.

However, replacing the entire roof is considered an improvement since your are "substantially prolonging the useful life of the house", and must be depreciated over 27.5 years.