I negotiated it and we agreed on $20,000 cash because the shingle roofing was older that 14 years so it needed to be replaced entirely.  

Any other advice from seasoned vets would be awesome.

I'm just up the road in San Marcos and was looking to do the very same thing for an older house we just bought. 

I know it's like scraping the bottom of the barrel, but you do occasionally find the qualified, good quality tenant along the way (Mostly for seasonals).

Fall/Winter is approaching, and that is the slow season for them, because most people don't want to do a big remodel over the holidays. 

My question for those that have done this or are familiar is what is the better strategy....1) Identify and purchase multiple properties in the 1031 exchange or 2) Purchase the first property in the 1031 and then after the needed seasoning period, do a cash out refinance and then purchase the second property.I am not sure if one strategy is easier or more cost efficient than the other?  

More importantly are the seasoned investors that you can meet.  

Seasonal areas (summer by the lake) may have low occupancy, low purchase price and high peak season rates, therefor still make a profit. 

I been doing this for a while, new to the Alabama market. It's like starting over when you move to a new market. Been talking to contractors and handyman for work I need done. Some guys think you don't know anything a...

I like to narrow it down with high equity and I also like to look for older owners.