Is there something that makes this lot desirable or undesirable?

Another seasonal thing would be mudding drywall and interior painting; if the heat isn't on in winter, you won't get things to dry - but in summer you could do those with or without HVAC (at least up north).

I use a similar method to what Bruce uses to eliminate undesirable properties then I drive by anything I might bid on and put my eyes on each and every property.

Mud season started so this will probably have the slow season. 

so here's to slinging mud and tape.. 

I appreciate that we can have a lively discussion about things here on BP without any mud slinging.

@Michael LoweMy family is against it because my uncle had a duplex in an undesirable part of town (even though he lived in it too).

To me, a house is just sticks and mud and in California, that statement is more true than you would think!

If you think calling a spade a spade is slinging mud, then I'm sorry for you.

But yeah, other than that it'd probably be good to have a GC check it out just for a ballpark because he'll know an estimate for reframing, sheetrocking, mud/tape/prime/paint, and retrimming the baseboards/door if applicable.