I had to go with the sellers to a city council meeting for the conditional use permit, and about 10 minutes on the phone when I was going for the extention, for a total of about an hour and a half, and it has been a great investment.

I can speak over the phone about this as well. 

As was mentioned above - Relationship is key when it comes to real estate banking and financing - the ability to get a mortgage with a "phone call" is very helpful.

@Zack Karp I tried to tag you on my phone and it wouldn't let me, so I figured you didn't get the notification.The CU loan officer said even if the loans were excluded, I wouldn't qualify for much more than 75k that was approved for a conventional loan.

Hope for the best, but it will be a scramble trying to get the roof dried in or other repairs immediately after the storm.  

Our PM hired contractors to do the repairs but the repairs were not getting done. 

Unless vets are considered to be so special that credit scores do not matter a 500 score will be no where good enough for any conventional bank loans.I would rent, with luck you may find a mom and pop landlord that does not care, then work to repair your score over the next couple of years.  

Will they provide you with the time needed before they demand you get the repairs done to make the house livable and marketable?

Only if you have some listings to sell on the market with a local phone #.There are also a lot of scams from PI.

Is there a valid reason on their part to void the deal if the needed repairs are obvious and a little more than just cosmetic?