Did you budget for the tenant improvements and leasing commissions that comes with signing office leases? 

The costs of such maintenance and repairs shall be allocated as follows: *The cost of repairs, maintenance and improvements, which are less than or equal to Five Hundred and no/100 Dollars ($500.00) per repair shall be paid by Tenant.

I am interested in ideas for improving the curb appeal of this property.

If you do not qualify now the broker should be able to tell you what you need to improve in order to become qualified.

The ventilation in the attic was not adequate.  

Passive income can help you pursue your real passion, but who knows, you may become passionate about aspects of real estate:  providing jobs, improving communities, the big checks, the tax savings, or the travel?

Investing 20-25 percent of your own money provides some equity which helps cushion the leverage (in addition to any improvements you make to force appreciation) and it eliminates the need to pay private mortgage insurance.

Be talkative and use it as an excuse to leverage your current environment.At the end of the day, money spent on self-improvement usually is never a bad investment. 

I plan on wrapping it in vinyl siding next year, which should greatly improve the outside view.

Our goal is to purchase an REO to rehab, live in it for a couple years making small additional improvements, and sell it for a profit.