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Roofing
Missing Cap Flashing
The seller bragged that this roof was put on by "The best roofer in town"
If he's the best roofer why can't he figure out that water is not supposed to get into a brick structure? A cap flashing should have been installed over the top of this to keep water out.
Damaged Parapet
The roof membrane was commonly used for cap flashing on older buildings
Many old flat roofs have the roofing membrane wrapped up the parapet wall and across the top. If it was extended down the outside of the wall for a bit there would be no problem. But it also wouldn't look very good, so the membrane is usually stopped half way across the top. This picture shows what happens. Water has found its way into this wall (there were water stains on the interior plaster in spite of recent refinishing). The mortar between the bricks has broken down and the parapet is leaning in. The top of this wall needs to be re-built.
The End Result
Here is a case of extreme water damage
The top of this wall relied on a mortar cap to keep water out. The mortar cap didn't do a very good job. The top of the wall has completely broken down. Water also found its way into the lumber of the roof structure which is now rotted out.