I live in an area with very large incomes, and low house prices compared to the rest of the country - there's dozens of cities and towns in Canada like this, so don't paint the market with a broad brush. 

Is it worth diving into a full bathroom/kitchen gut (unpermitted/handyman not of my choice) possibly revealing more issues or just paint, new cabinet pulls, switches/outlets, lights, etc?

Just needs to update the kitchen cabinets, appliances, bathrooms, and some paint.

My preferred houses need paint and a new roof.

Any kind of paint will start to peel and fall off rather quick.

Even the few no money down deals I have done wasn’t really no money down deals, because I spent thousands upon thousands of dollars in marketing  and typically I had to do some sort of rehab to the property once I got it.The last Sub2 deal idea I had to give the seller $17,000, pay all the closing cost, repaint the whole house, and make payments on the thing three months while I was getting it ready.The one before that the guy was behind almost $7000, I had to change the carpet, I painted the whole house, I made a number of payments while I was getting it ready, and I paid the closing cost, and I probably spent close to $7000 on a marketing campaign . 

My contractor recommended I seal it with a special mortar paint which I did.

We added value by repainting interior, new floors, new roof, resurfaced the pool, added a fence for privacy, upgraded the landscaping, sealed and painted the exterior, added central A/C with new unit, upgraded the irrigation system, added gutters, added security cameras, added hurricane proof front and rear doors.

The numbers are in, and they paint an exciting picture of growth and opportunity.

Even if the first deal "costs" them money, it is the cost of education and they are better suited for the next.B) Of the handful of turnkey providers whose websites I have been to and deals I have looked out, let's just say they are certainly painting a VERY rosy picture.