Dans mom spent every dime she got on booze and pot and lsd etc.Dans mom was in one abusive relationship after another and Dan watched his mom get beat for many years.

Lol, Your pot commited.

Being approached to purchase / sell drugs (not counting pot in a college area) is a clear signal that you're not in the best of neighborhoods.

That's probably enough to get you into commercial, and then you have a better class of tenants to deal with.Unless you are buying a really classy building, apartment dwellers are the bottom of the sludge pot of tenants.

@Scott Mac, I like "A" As a cook it's nice to have 1 big sink for cleaning large pots and pans.That being said, a sink alone would never attract me to or keep me in a certain rental.

How has the legalization of pot influenced your investment strategies?

The house wreaked of pot.

I said all that to say this, I've learned more from my first property being under contract then I could've ever learned from just analyzing REI from the bench.

Some brightly colored benches by the front doors would look good, but might not be the best choice if it's a low rent neighborhood-- you'd have to decide if you think they would stay put or "disappear." 

There are still a number of good homes in Cottonwood under $300k.SugarHouse, The Avenues, Foothill, Canyon Rim, Olympus Cove and anything East Bench (20th E or higher) is going quickly.