The roofing company actually pointed out to me that this was hail / storm damage (that hadn't occurred to me somehow, despite half the houses on that street suddenly getting roof work!

Marc, there are also some "peer to peer" lending companies like Lending Club which may be available to you, though I've read mixed reviews of them online.Here are a couple of articles I bookmarked on the topic: Peer-to-peer lending: From the people, for the people; and Wall Street's Takeover Of Peer-to-Peer Lending Almost Complete.Also, the Mister Money Mustache forums seem to have some good commentary on specific companies such as Lending Club (since MMM was an early user/proponent of it - not sure where he stands on it now).

Fort Wayne has the lowest cost of living in the nation and is the best place to live in Indiana is the word on the street. 

I simply take a target zip code/street in my investment area and begin to use google maps to walk up the street using my mouse to zoom in on any property that may look distressed.

The question is, he's only been living there a week and there are already lease violations (this is not the first time I've smelled smoke and seen him on the stoop--the last time, I asked him to walk down the street).  

My grandfather owns the homemade I am staying at right now, and two empty lots across the street.

There is a major street just to south of my house that is really a divider line between the two areas.

(I've yet to walk those streets.)

Especially for custom materials.It's also worth mentioning that as a former contractor I get different (and often, more advantageous) pricing than a person off the street. 

And besides, there's no off-street parking for my Escalade".True story.