After a few conversations you will have a good feel for rehab costs just by looking at a property.Also, some regular trips to home depot to check out their packages for appliances and home renovations can be helpful too.The benefit of this is that with that kind of knowledge you will pick up important info along the way and you will be able to develop your own system and standard.For example I'm getting some flooring work done and by reaching out to different vendors I learned that SPC flooring is a lot more durable  and cheaper than WPC (SPC and WPC are both types of Vinyl flooring) - also by price shopping you will find one vendor is charging you $3.5 per sq ft for flooring and that same flooring is being sold elsewhere for $2.49.

For a refi, make a decision on durability and cost for the counter tops.

Beyond that, we do usually install decent/durable blinds (otherwise your tenants will end up putting bedsheets, aluminum foil, and all kinds of other creative solutions in your windows, and/or damage things while trying to install and uninstall their own) and window screens.

Much thicker than the old vinyl so the yellow of the glue doesn't eventually show through, more durable and if damage ever happens one has the opportunity to replace the damaged plank

Do you trust where rents are today for any market, or do you worry that in certain areas the durability of these rents is less than in other markets? 

Do you trust where rents are today for any market, or do you worry that in certain areas the durability of these rents is less than in other markets?

The titled owner has a certain amount of time to pay back taxes and penalties or the land becomes property of the investor.)You can buy raw land (in remote, cheap areas) and remarket it (to rich people who need a getaway and are accustomed to expensive land)You could start a title agency (title agencies are buried right now because of low interest rates) and I suspect the backlog will continue until the flood of deferred foreclosures starts.You could become an appraiser (much demand because of low interest rates)You could start a home inspection or commercial building inspection business and possibly leverage your engineering expertise.You could design a new type of home or innovate a construction process that uses cheaper/eco-friendly/durable materials or saves time -- or makes rich people feel better somehow -- and revolutionize RE with your new building technology.You could start a single-member LLC, open a Solo401k,  and roll retirement funds into it so you can use it to invest in RE.   

It currently has vinyl siding, and I'm trying to figure out how to keep the place looking good and being durable against the elements.

I am looking for functionality and durability. 

Concrete countertops, new sink and faucet, new durable floors, tile backsplash, refinished and painted cabinets, added dishwasher, etc.