The current home we are looking at is a single family on 11.5 pastured acres with a 5 stall heated horse barn. 

My wife and I are thinking about purchasing an older home that is very up to date with the exception of a boiler heating system.

It is a rental house and probably going to need another central heat and air unit.I know in most places there’s a go to person that works with investors.

BTW, the four-bedroom home had a price tag of $2,999,999, which certainly isn’t affordable for four ladies on fixed incomes.Beating the Heat.

You can get a crime heat map by typing the address into trulia.  

Also I think most landlords include heat in their rent so something to consider when running the numbers.

But as I read around, this seems like it may not be the case, making many properties negative cash flows.A specific example I heard from someone who owns a property in NY:$2500 gross rental from 3 family $1500 PITI $1000 "cash flow" (tenants pay gas and heat, but this number does not include the 35% for cap ex/maintenance/PM/vacancy, not to mention trash/electric/water etc)$12K per year!

Unit 2  and 3's heating units either need to be fixed or upgraded. 

I am out of my element here but have a good rapport with the agent.

So you should be looking to hold 6 months of running costs, including the typical heating costs thru wintertime.