If only one you may be able to add just another shingle layer to it for cheap.If there are a ton of shingle layers which usually shouldn't be more than two then you put undue stress on the structure and you might be in a county or city code violations for unsafe practices and conditions.The next thing you need to do it go to your attic space where you can see the under board of the roof and it's condition.

Any firm decision is far from made on my end as I'm keeping an open mind and will walk away from the idea of investing in this city if the conditions force me to.I am going to Minneapolis this summer to spend a week scouring potential properties (with an open mind) and may choose to just stick to the Los Angeles market.To the savvy investors in this forum:Has anyone invested in this zip code area and if not does anyone have any knowledge about this area of Minneapolis?

Along with meeting all building code, they require a water test and they require the septic be pumped every 4 years.

HVAC, foundation, addons or conversions not permitted or up to code

With that in mind...start with a smaller area or zip code and find the "big fish" cash buyers in that area.

We have used them several times in the past to find contractors to do work at our house and will likely utilize them for rehab work when we find an investment property.On their website ( www.homeadvisor.com ), you put in the zip code and the type of job, and they give you a list of several pre-screened contractors/companies to contact.  

There was serious electrical and plumbing issues, and there was an addition (4rd bedroom) that was never approved, not to code.

The Tax Code and Treasury Regulations leave a lot of issues open for interpretation, which creates lots of gray areas. 

We'll take stories, advice, zip codes, colleagues... whatever you can suggest.

Watch out for other  gov't liens, code violations, property taxes, and recorded/unrecorded HOA debts, as these all remain with the property.