Incidentally, bullet point #3 above means you should consider not applying OP advice equally to all mortgages across all properties.

You're dodging a bullet not working with this customer.

They are liens usually for income tax liabilitiesYesSee bullet point 1.

The ABC's of Real Estate Investing has some great tips on evaluating markets and forming a team to help find market and submarket information that might give clues to current status, future growth, planned developments, major highway expansions, progressive agendas like building bullet trains to connect cities like Chicago and Milwaukee.  

But there's a lot of people who are still making it work, either by finding the upside and time in a deal, or biting the bullet and renting out bedrooms in SF to make it cash flow..

or bit the bullet, buy and then fix as I can using the funds from my paycheck and the savings I would have due to a lower mortgage payment then rental costs. 

My bullet point thoughts are:* You have to live somewhere; if you can make your residence also provide some rental income and property management experience, so much the better* Do you actually want to live in that house/area, apart from the #s?

You could also consider creating a listing of the value you bring in a bullet list format that tells the person what they would have to do and what expenses they would incur if they wanted to handle things on their own.

I am wondering if I should bite the bullet and get all new windows or if there is an alternative route??

It sounds like you are looking for the magic bullet that will propel you to fantastic wealth.