Watch for power company energy rebates and take advantage of getting a discount when they come available.

I am particularly impressed with the time and energy you put into obtaining a first hand knowledge of your target market.  

But you might want to tell that to LA's eastisde where burned out houses in Echo Park sell for $181,000 over asking (no, that's not a mis-print)

., my investment doesn't require as much of my time & energy as it would if I wanted greater returns.

Its a horrible joke i will burn the house down before i pay them 10 cents more than what i agreed to.

The end result is they burn themselves, the passive partners, and the industry as they fade away within a year.  

If condensation on the inside of the windows and/or energy efficiency during the cold months is a big concern, interior or exterior storm windows are options to consider.I'm not a big fan of modern wood windows.

Joists and subfloor are relatively easy to fix and if you have the time and energy something a novice can handle.

The historical society  can dictate structural work, paint colors, things that change the appearance of the front of the home (including new energy efficient windows, etc), and in some districts even the landscaping.

Imagine if the house burned down when you were under contract.