But I hear the term real estate investment and my blood flows faster.

You can make more with one great deal that you use a combination of creativity, blood, and sweat than many people can make in ten deals.

Always great to have new blood around.  

The life blood of Fayetteville is the military and most of the more discerning from this group care about the schools, those that don't are probably not the best tenants.

The above advice is very good and it is always different in each situation like the previous posts mentioned.Our first rental was actually my sister in law and her husband and as I am not blood related like my bf is I handle most of what is needed for that rental.It's worked out well so far but again it's a case by case basis and their character will play a big factor in your decision.

As you know investing is a blood sport.

I am in the hospital again getting another thing fixed that had to do with low blood pressure and another surgery.  

If you feel you must pursue it, hire a lawyer and prepare yourself for a long hard fight, at the end of which you'll likely discover that the contractor is literally worth nothing and getting money from him will be like getting blood from a rock.Realize that in the future you need to be working with legitimate contractors, using legitimate contracts, with legitimate collateral in case things go wrong.For now, hire that contractor (The legitimate one), and get your property in line with your exit strategy. 

However, to make things really work as an investor creating leads (consistently) is the life blood of your business.  

If I was buying a place in my town/city, I would probably want to buy a fixer upper at a discount, put the money, blood, sweat and tears into it and have it cash flow until the day I'm dead.