The banks I have reached out to say that I need to have an offer letter signed before I can apply for a loan, but my agent is telling me that a good offer needs to have a pre-qualification attached.How did others navigate this - am I just working with the wrong banks, or should I push for my agent to make offers with a contingency on the financing?

You can search at the top of your screen to read additional posts on this topic.https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/87/topics/117...Now that you have made the move, below are some links that will help with the navigation of the site. http://www.biggerpockets.com/startherehttp://www.biggerpockets.com/meethttps://www.biggerpockets.com/alertsHow to Use @Mentions on BiggerPocketshttps://www.biggerpockets.com/ruleshttps://www.biggerpockets.com/inviteshttps://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/categorieshttps://www.udemy.com/biggerpockets-real-estate-investing-course/ (video with 64 lectures and approx 6hrs of material)https://www.biggerpockets.com/real-estate-investing (Ultimate beginner's guide to REI)Before your 1st purchase, please ensure you visit the below link for some tips.https://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2014/12/19/real-estate-investing-success-smart-tips/REI books suggested by BPershttps://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2015/11/13/7-real-estate-books-beginner-investors/ (7 absolute must read books for beginner REIs)http://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2013/04/14/best-real-estate-books/?

Consult due diligence professionals (attorneys, inspectors, appraisers, etc) who are used to navigating these concerns in your area.

BTW the name of the company is http://onenationtitle.com.My question is, what is the best way to navigate this snag?

Even navigating the complexities of property managers could be a deal killer for you.  

The 203b has much less hoops to jump through and is a little easier to navigate. 

The items that you mentioned that need to be repaired while they are important, they also are not part of the living area of the house so you can navigate around it.

See what their ideal real estate transaction looks like in their minds, then create a strategy around their scenario, if possible.With real estate investing, one has to be a creative (problem-solver & value adder.)Navigate this platform for marketing strategies, general real estate investing education, and connections.

Thanks for your willingness to help a fellow investor navigate a financing issue that has recently popped up for me.

Taylor; Do not know if you can navigate to here https://www.biggerpockets.com/files/user/AHCCapita...but there is an investment template for apartments that might be helpful.If not - go to the file section of BP and search "Apartment Investment Template"