Any tips?

You can create a scale based on cost of non wear and tear (broken drywall, damage, etc.), number of non-landlord problem calls, etc.

Any advice/tips would be greatly appreciated!

You do not see this today... in any market that I am aware of .. new construction is not nearly as far over its ski tips as back then.Also there is this thought process that owning rentals insulates one from a down turn... this may be the case in already tight RE markets to some extent.. but rentals got hit very hard as well.

Of it's a leak, the culprit is likely a broken pipe or connection under growing somewhere.  

Had a drain company come out to assess it  and low and behold, I had a root obstruction and broken pipe in the underground about 25 ft from the foundation!

Any information, tips, suggestions would be greatly appreciated.ThanksStacie

Thanks for the tip with the laundry.

You can write letters, see if you can get a phone #, talk to the neighbors to see what they know or just go up and knock on the door.Once you have a good deal, go to your local REIA meeting or post it here on BP and I guarantee you will have no trouble finding someone with cash.Spend some time combing the site for tips on "driving for dollars", "direct mail", "off market deals", etc...It sounds like you have relevant experience and skills, so my suggestion would be to find a great deal.  

Great thanks for the tip...