Or you could mail out just one letter and get a killer deal - but counting on that is like winning the lottery.  

(Presuming that you're still within your due diligence period).If you're getting a killer deal that you don't want to walk away from, I'd be inclined to go with the @Nathan G. solution and talk with a couple of contractors.FWIW, I never want to seller to make the repairs. 

The other variable you want to keep an eye out for is flood insurance, that is another deal killer. 

He did say that debt to income could be the "killer." 

If you find a property and the numbers make sense, buy it, if the numbers work jump on it, I do agree that it is better to have a tenant in place if you are buying in the winter, a property being vacant should not be a deal killer if the numbers work.

@Karen Emery, seems like a killer list for that kind of demographic.

You can draw on the line of credit and pay it off over and over during the draw period.Like any type of loan or credit you will need to satisfy the lender that you will be able to pay back the money you borrow so being unemployed could be a deal killer.

Okay, Idea killers ... tell me what is flawed or what you would do differently? 

Bad credit seems to be pretty universal these days.The big three credit killers are student loans, medical bills, and divorce. 

That is a deal killer for me.