So RE is so powerful because you get tremendous tax reduction benefits (depreciation, interest expenses, all operating expenses, and depreciate your capital improvements) all the while you've leveraged your investments, your tenants are paying your mortgage down for you, inflation is eating away at your mortgage, and you raise rents over time.

Recently I went to a couple of attorney's for advice on a new venture and was sorely disappointed.

The screens are an eye sore. 

The stuff we buy has typically been on the market and vacant for six months to one year (or more), has been vandalized and in need of major renovations, is an eye sore to say the least, and no regular lender will lend on it because it’s unlivable.

I've found good deals from disillusioned landlords and partway finished rehabbers who sorely underestimated their costs.should I look into cooler markets elsewhere (within 90 miles of my home, where rehabs are still Listed on the MLS close to 70% LTV, or better) This sounds a bit better than right at home, insofar as availability of deals, BUT, how long will it take you to drive the 90 miles to do the work?

If it comes across as kind of a sore spot with me, please let me appoligize at this point, but seeing people getting messed over 90% of the time, even if both parties had good intentions, gets old.

Having the sore thumb of the area is never a good idea.

It is possible for the national index/etf/itb to be soring and the city/town in which you hold your properties just lost a major employer or vice-versa.For most real estate investors your best hedge is to buy your properties well - when performing diligence model the property with rent set under market, a sufficient allowance for vacancy & bad debt, and realistic to conservative operating expenses.

I later read that there is some type of disorder where a person is over-sensitive to noise and I think that is what this tenant had.

The only disability at issue from your end is the guy's RPD (rotten personality disorder)