If you want to invest in real estate he can make some suggestions on how to posture your financial picture to make you attractive to lenders and investors.

The low purchase price was attractive, but after we discovered the damage was not as significant as we feared we realized this house would be a home run.

In the event it's ever vacant it would take a huge amount of work to make it attractive. 

This is exactly why I posed this question, I keep finding instances where condos could prove to be an attractive first step into the STR world. 

Tesla could be leaving its longtime Silicon Valley home for Austin, Texas, a city that has attracted a flood of tech companies and remote workers over the last year and a half.

Cap rates remain attractive in many of the outer boroughs while rates (temporarily) remain low - so there has really never been a better time "spread" wise.If you are looking for yield in the short run, NYC may not be for you.

Newer investors are attracted to the cashflow, but they can come with their own set of challenges.  

I'm now trying to stay focused buying rentals as this is what attracted me to real estate investing in the first place.

@Ben HaackeTownhome is more attractive to renters than apartment style, but you also have a bigger roof and basement to manage.

Alternatively...Have you approached the seller to  see if they are willing to carry?