It won’t lower any of your monthly payments.

With cash, your holding costs are MUCH lower so a delay isn't as costly.

I could of course keep repairing the slate when leaks appear every 2 years in different parts of the roof but it's a little stressful when we are on vacations and I think I'm time for a replacement.

So my options to lower my monthly payments are limited at best.

Lowering their temperature certainly leads to longer term tenancies. 

Looks like there are a lot of lower priced foreclosures in your area too. 

It could be that the demographics for the area is lower income families.

So, if you want to refinance in the future, it may not add anything to your valueDuplexes may appraise as less than a single family house and thus you might even lower your value.

If the seller says "well you wrote as is so I am not making repairs or lowering the price" you can legally respond with "ok, later"

That being said, on a cash out refinance, you're going to get the lower of 70-80% of the purchase price or appraised value.