This deal came up this morning - the homeowner is currently owner financing the deal at $1000/mth for the last 6 years plus $80/mth in insurnace; no taxes as original owner is exempt. He wants to get out and buy a dif...

I found a house, ironically, in my own neighborhood.

Half way through viewing the house, he got excited talking about how he will organize and decorate the house ..., he walked around faster than I could walk  :D

I noted someone recently (from Austin) said the City Council was starting to "Sour" on AirBNB due to neighborhood complaints.

I’m well versed on the south side neighborhoods and markets.

The property is in a "C" neighborhood in ROC, NY. 

To some knowing your market means to walk the neighborhood.

The other houses in the neighborhoods are not dropping.

For the latter, for example- buying a fixer-upper in a sketchier neighborhood would be pretty risky if you don't have easier access to get to the property if need be.

Remodels closer to downtown on older homes have ashpalt-shingle roofs.Just an opinion, but unless you're doing something very custom, try to stick to what the neighborhood does and do not let your personal affinity for materials cloud your judgment on what the masses actually want.