I would say, your best bet is to pain the units a modern greige color like Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore.

If I get some more specifics, I can probably advise you a little better, but your best bet may be to go deep into Queens or Brooklyn (near a subway, but making a pretty long commute), south Bronx or Staten Island (which doesn't have a navigable subway to the city (but relatively close if you can take the staten island ferry, which is free).

I agree, small claim court is your best bet to recover your money.

There are also issues of landlord covenant of habitability which in Minnesota cannot be waived (at the end of the day the landlord is responsible should the apartment be uninhabitable, not the tenant who did not perform the work). 

I'd bet 29.

For your first one a friend or family may be your best bet (but be careful when mixing money with relationships). 

I'll bet you never imagined this when you were searching for help on real estate @Joshua Dorkin and came up with this brilliant idea.

Also be aware that the property may have to meet habitability standards to qualify for a conventional loan.

It would be nice to share costs, and I want to get in the habit of including others in deals, so that I can learn more methods for doing that well, and so I start a deal flow.  

Her only bet is an attorney, if suit is filed.