They are looking at specific things, particularly safety issues.  

"The market is the most efficient mechanism anywhere in the world for transferring wealth from impatient people to patient people

Some one who is patient and will help us through our first investment purchase.

It is an incredible health and safety issue.  

Found]d the original B4 pic of that 70's kitchen along with our safety sign on all jobs.

My husband works in finance and I work in food safety for our W2's, we also have an 18 mo. old son.

Our priorities are 1- fixes for safety or to prevent further damage; 2- fixes that improve the rental income or will draw great tenants (we're turning the studio to a 1Br to increase rent), and 3-things my wife wants for customization/aesthetics (happy wife, happy life).Some specific questions I had so far are:1) We have a modified bitumen roof. 

I am on my second house (one in Harrisburg and one in Oxford). through my research it seems like building a buy and hold real estate portfolio is really what makes sense to me at least to provide a safety net. so that is my goal for the next few years.

It's preventing you from buying a deal you shouldn't.You can settle for a bad deal, look in another market where houses are cheaper, or be patient.

Be patient and stick to your criteria - remember that buying no deal is much better than buying a bad one.