Like you we had 3 teams of two door knockers  2 for safety one women one man.. and we door knocked every NOD in our 2 mil MSA  all to boil it down to if we were very lucky to get 2 to 3 deals a month.. now we were a little different I only would buy very high equity deals.. and we leased back .. because as you state 99% don't want to leave.. 

However, in emergencies or cases involving health and safety, we would attempt to contact the owner first and, if unsuccessful, proceed with the repair as outlined in the contract.Regarding the hot water heater, do you know if it genuinely needed to be replaced?

If you want safety, pay off the property.

The marketing/advertising firm, aka RE broker, is not the expert in building codes, zoning, structural engineering, neighborhood safety, etc.As a prudent investor, always do your own due diligence or you'll end up being (unitentionally) misguided by a RE broker's information.  

While I continue nurturing those realtor relationships (and patiently waiting for my phone to ring), I'm curious to explore other avenues for sourcing off-market deals.

Thankfully I have no property in NY.I loved this quote which shows just how clueless people are about housing issues:“Housing instability is at the root of so many problems facing our city, such as exacerbating homelessness and hunger, failing to meet our children’s educational needs, and undermining public safety,” said the CWTU in a statement.

Add outdoor security cameras (just let guests know they’re there) and maybe some motion-sensor lights for extra safety.

They usually cherry-pick fire and safety related items from new editions of the building code that just can't wait, in their opinion.

Hire a licensed and insured electrician there are codes that are in place to protect people and property it is a safety risk that you should not cut corners to save a few dollars on.

However, before doing anything I take my time to gather information, think outside the box, connect with people who have done the very thing that other people say is impossible, stay patient, see whether there are any unique solutions I can bring, and only then decide what to do.Thanks a lot for your feedback, and I'm looking forward to learning more, especially on the thesis of not using short-term debt for a long-term investment.