Striking that off the list of possibilities right off the bat makes me question your "why".At the end of the day, the question of paying off debt first or investing in real estate first is really a question of temperament.

Do your preparation now and strike when prices calm down.

I had 2 deals close to an agreement with 2 different retiring investors but since I'm new to the area and type of investing I was not going to budge on my strike price.

Does anyone know of any programs that will assist landlords when a disaster strikes.

I think we're going to be able to strike an agreement to buy in as-is condition.This is my first potential deal, and I wanted to educate myself a little bit on what to do with code violations.The house has had many self-done add-ons by multiple owners since its original construction. 

Also, the best way to strike up the conversation is to listen to what they need and want, what they'd do with the money, etc., and then hopefully the conversation can flow into this alternative way you can help them.

Also - " Smile , Keep Eye Contact, (no sun glasses), keep your hands and arms open, turn a quarter or half turn so your back is to the front door as it opens, (Smile and stretch your arms out open in your car just before you knock), stay positive, always be closing for appointment, set appointment for future date, get phone # and cell #, bring paperwork to appointment, ask questions as to what is the most important issue with selling this home, craft your pitch around this answer, close deal, repeat process for next deal "Door Knocking in a nut shell ...You will strike out say 9 out 10 times, so what?! 

Just don't strike out.  

However, in order to initiate a "rent strike" and not pay rent, at least in Texas, there are specific notification and response windows that have to be met (by the tenant) and failed (by the landlord) before the tenant can take any of this action.If you have your requests and invoices for the efforts to remedy the situations, if the issues named were never reported, and If the report appears retaliatory in intent, you're probably in good shape.

That strikes up another question you may be able to answer for me.