The style is appropriate to the home, but I am considering options as well as recommendations for a clay tile roof contractor in Jacksonville, FL.Any alternatives to suggest, and guidelines on costs?

So that limits our techniques of diverting water... although fixing the gutters may do the trick.I didn't check if there's a window at the point of entry, but certainly will later.

An alternative would be to attach furring strips and hang regular drywall over the wall then finish it as needed.

Alternatively you can try looking on google maps with good reviews on google. 

I agree with your thinking, and almost always present alternatives to 30YF when someone has owned the property for a number of years. 

If the risks (both the subject to/due on sale issue AND the title insurance issue) can be negated entirely with alternative financing, it just seems penny wise pound foolish not to explore that option instead of the subject to/no title insurance, which COULD (not will for certain, but we do agree it could) end up a big mess.

Can anyone recommend a good alternative to slate that wont look cheap?

Smart investors follow the big money and do their homework when it comes to investing in alternative fixed-income funds .

Monopoly or Cashflow are great teachers of the real estate investing plus it helps them learn techniques and language. 

Alternatively, if we are willing to be aggressive, we will drop the price and move in there.