I may be a tad optimistic but I firmly believe that there is money to be made in any market - you just have to embrace what ever situation you are in.

It's just to ****ing easy for them to resist.That is why my other point is, which you skipped over and would have answered your question in the first place, is that some of the problem is in fact all of us.All the "you can do it" "real estate is easy" "don't let others hold you back"If a person comes on here and tries to argue any of those sentiments, the mob reacts with ridicule and scorn.Yet, none of those things are false either, and those slogans are in fact all things we must all embrace to succeed.And at the same time, they are the very things that get us into trouble.See what I mean?

A good lender will readily embrace the opportunity to hear your pitch.

Added to the above, if Elecric heat is not the norm- you won't find tenant-prospects embracing electric heat as an advantage.

Electronic methods are not necessarily embraced by all tenants, especially older tenants, and with a larger number of tenants consistency simplifies the banking and book keeping.I never have a late payment from any tenant. 

http://www.floormyplace.com/p-27245-legato-embrace-mkct-545029-904-first-cup.aspx

An exception would be extensive storm damage that goes beyond the surface and affects multiple areas.The most common repairs performed on roofs include:90-95 percent occur around flashingBlown- Off or loose shinglesPonding water due to insufficient protective measuresPunctures or penetrations relegated to a single areaShingles that are curling upwards may mean there are leaks underneath the surface or that water is getting into parts of a roof where it shouldn’t be going. roofs with curled shingles often need to be replaced within 1-5 years.Complete replacement is typically recommended when:Damage extends below a roof’s surface layerRepairs are becoming increasingly frequentBald spots are showing up where granules( materials that provide added protection to a roof) are missingA roof is more than 20- 25 years old or has undergone too many re-roofs to make re-roofing a safe option againAn existing roof was poorly installed or not installed according to codeRoof replacement doesn’t necessarily mean completely tearing off an existing roof and starting over from scratch.

Sealing the cracks would be a good place to start (good idea for water penetration, at least!)

Fire damaged lumber must be removed as simply treating it will likely not do the trick down the road when the fire/ash smell starts penetrating into the home.

I'm kind of terrified of water penetration/damage in general.