Not that its lack of temperature eliminates opportunities, but don't fall into that whole illusion of the "right" time to get in.

(personally, if I had to *guess*, I would think average temperatures are increasing, but it has nothing to do with anything we've done, it's just a natural planetary cycle, but who knows)...

If there is/was little insulation in the attic (the ceiling joists are exposed above the insulation), you would have cooler/warmer temperature along the bottom of the joists which could both cause moisture issues and may have affected how the smoke particulate stuck to the ceiling.If you take the pointed tip of a knife or {one blade} of a pair of scissors and {gently} press into the drywall along one of those lines, is the drywall hard or does the knife tip slid in fairly easily?  

They have one at my office, and it has vents on the sides of course so it can read temperature, and they take bent paper clips to push the little levers when they get cold.

It is certainly a humidity and temperature issue cause all mold issues are!

The changes in water saturation and temperature throughout the year makes the foundation heave and settle, if only by a fraction. 

The electric boiler is basically a beefy, in-line hot water heater which, being in a closed system, does not have as great of a temperature lift from source water to output as a DHW inline heater would.If gas is more affordable in your area, then rather than ripping out all the existing supply lines and trying to install ductwork for a furnace - which can become expensive quickly, particularly if multiple levels or stories are involved - you could simply replace the boiler with a high efficiency (95% AFUE) gas fired boiler.

We have found the best way to keep things running smoothly is to have a designated "Den Mother" in the house - in our case, my sister-n-law.4) You will be carrying all the utilities; as such, it is in your best interest to invest in programmable thermostats (with a lock-out limits on max and min temperature settings); low-flow fixtures and LED lighting.  

As soon as the temperature went up the siding expanded but didn't have anywhere to go.

Windows will develop condensation when the outside air temperature and indoor air temperatures differ, unless they have good airflow around them.