Usually when paint 'doesn't stick', it is because someone applied water based paint over oil based without priming first.

All an agent should do for you is list the property to generate showings => to generate applications, that YOU then screen.Now, they may actually be asking you want screening criteria you want them to advertise, which is fine.Can't answer your question though, without knowing if this is a Class A, B, C or D property - as they will all have different criteria.Here's a sample of some of what we use in our Metro Detroit market:Class A Properties:Vacancy Est: Historically 10%, 5% the more recent norm.Tenant Pool: Majority will have FICO scores of 680+ (roughly 5% probability of default), zero evictions in last 7 years.Class B Properties:Vacancy Est: Historically 10%, 5% should be applied only if proper research done to support.Tenant Pool: Majority will have FICO scores of 620-680 (around 10% probability of default), some blemishes, but should have no evictions in last 5 yearsClass C Properties:Vacancy Est: Historically 10%, but 15-20% should be used to also cover tenant nonpayment, eviction costs & damages.Tenant Pool: majority will have FICO scores of 560-620 (approaching 22% probability of default), many blemishes, but should have no evictions in last 2 years.

I'm basically at water level on this, and I don't know that other investors could make this cashflow any more than I could without me selling at a huge loss. 

Do you look for an acre with city water and electricity and build on that or do you put in your own?  

We currently have a pool table and foosball table for guests in first floor living space, but was thinking of adding a ping pong table in garage.   

I was thinking I'd buy an acre of land that has city electricy and water available, and pay that off so that it can be used for collateral one house at a time.  

Does federal lands have water and sewer running thru it?

:Class A Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, 3-5 years for positive cashflow, but you get highest relative rent & value appreciation.Vacancy Est: Historically 10%, 5% the more recent norm.Tenant Pool: Majority will have FICO scores of 680+ (roughly 5% probability of default), zero evictions in last 7 years.Class B Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, decent amount of relative rent & value appreciation.Vacancy Est: Historically 10%, 5% should be applied only if proper research done to support.Tenant Pool: Majority will have FICO scores of 620-680 (around 10% probability of default), some blemishes, but should have no evictions in last 5 yearsClass C Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, high cashflow and at the lower end of relative rent & value appreciation.

I am not saying it won't work, especially since there is already one house doing it, but it does limit the guest pool a bit.

Last time when millions of homes were foreclosed banks sold most of them to large pools of investors.