One of the reasons I have such a distain for gurus is that they approach any situation as some simple step by step process, nothing in RE is like that and there are different degrees of difficulties in strategies that are not understood by new investors, dealing in or near foreclosures is the most difficult in residential or even commercial deals for an investor type.

A tenant informed me the property will not heat above 58 degrees. 

As I close in on my retirement (here in five years), I'm realizing more and more that I need to line something up for when that day comes.I've started looking into a college degree as well, but thought that I should really give this real estate thing a solid commital and run with it.My initial interests in real estate, I think, are short sales. 

It seems generally the assignment fee is a higher percentage, but it wouldn't surprise me if on high-end flips it is actually lower.I think agents already essentially wholesale to some degree, with the "We will buy your house if it doesn't sell". 

Obvious cameras deters most and will be the cheapest route.You can probably get by with locks on the doors, cameras and a camera at the gate that can activate when the gate is opened.If you have serious concerns, I suggest you speak to a security specialist, your attorney can tell you the degree of security needed to keep you from being negligent and keeping tenants reasonably protected. :)  

Fees for services vary for any practitioner, a heart surgeon demands a higher price than a generalist or your chiropractor, it is based on education, costs of acquiring higher degrees of expertise, a successful criminal defense attorney may charge more due to his success of providing greater odds against going to jail.

If it is in fact a condo, then beware of new "Depreciation Reports" that are becoming law in BC, and perhaps Canada, making it mandatory (to the best of my knowledge) for Condo owners to some degree - I'm not sure of the details - but one $300K condo building I was looking at, asked each and every condo unit owner to cough up for $100K for repairs, (and that usually means cash, because remortgaging at today;s low rates could be costly).Last time I was in TO, I saw what appeared to be 100's of new condo developments / buildings - and that looks like a buyers market to me.Hope that was of a little help. 

todays weather: Jan 20, 2015...sunny, blue skies, high 65 degrees.

The electrical issues seem significant, but not to the degree of being a complete deal breaker.

Just wait till you get one asking you to paint when it's 8 degrees outside.  :-)