That is a piece of crap countertop and I can tell this is not a very nice kitchen.

Since you mentioned you're in the country and decent comps are hard to come by, I would put money on the agent knowing that one comp was crap but they decided to send it anyway.

Any books you recommend, or have helped you on your personal real estate journey.General Real Estate Books/Biographies101 Recipes for Riches in Real Estate - Proof with Design2 Years to a Million in Real EstateA Million Bucks by 30: How to Overcome a Crap Job, Stingy Parents, and a Useless Degree to Become a Millionaire Before (or After) Turning ThirtyBuilding Wealth One House at a Time, Updated and Expanded, Second EditionBuy It, Rent It, Profit!

So if you are prepared to wait for years and deal with the crap, go ahead.

A freeloader would make me work way too hard on paperwork and legal crap.

I agree that US News is full of crap.

I know this patch job looks like crap, and we seriously regret doing this project in the first place.But moving forward, we went to hang a 4lb fixture today, but discovered there's no stud or support under where they patched it and where they pulled the wires through.

Please keep in mind that "D" areas normally:  will take more repair expense; more hands-on management; will have vacancies/no-pays more often; tenants that will let their pitbull tear up the house and crap up the yard. 

Start with some local companies that other investors in your area recommend, including one big but expensive do-it-all company that you can call in an "oh crap, I don't care how much it costs it needs done right now" situation. 

Odds are good she was just slow at moving her crap out.