I realize that the safety of a human being trumps my mortgage payment/bottom line - but am I allowed to ask for a copy of a police report?

This home has some kind of rock stone siding at the bottom part of it .

Sure, the last couple winters have been extremely mild, but Ohio in general is one of the  bottom 5 sun filled states in the US- it gets really, really old.Personally, I plan to get to 20 rentals (just acquired my 10th on Friday) and move south, targeting either the Carolina's or Arizona. 

Bottom line: Get an accountant.

Color of walls will be some sort of a light neutral gray with white trim and white ceilings.

How difficult is it and how expensive to replace the joists, I would assume they should probably all be replaced, approx 20 of them, would the whole floor need to be removed to work from on top or do you think 12-14" is enough space for someone to work from the bottom?

$1500 probably isn't too far off, but likely the bottom end of rent range. 

If you want the FHA then 3.5% is your bottom end.

I live in the top unit and rent out the bottom.

I thought I was buying bottom of the electrical barrel with my 60-amp.