If it's in a blighted area the opposite will happen no matter what you as an owner do.When a new owner takes over from the previous one they have to generate a sustainable ROI or its won't turn out so well.

Average fair market rents increased in 2017 in 86 percent of the markets we analyzed even while average wage growth outpaced rent growth in 67 percent of markets — a recipe for sustainable growth in the rental market.” 

Sounds like you've already learned one of the keys for a sustainable REI business: happy wife, happy life.My wife and I moved a half a dozen times in as many years, each time moving out of the really nice place we had just worked our tail off to fix up and into the dump we were about to fix up next.

One common theme in the Zimmer story is landlords who took fast action to evict sustained lower damages.

Coffee farmer is the ideal type of retirement if this can sustain a simple lifestyle.

If the tenant's holdover is a wilful violation of the provisions of this chapter or the rental agreement, the landlord may also recover an amount not more than three months periodic rent or twice the actual damages sustained by him, whichever is greater and reasonable attorney's fees.

Personally, I look for sustainable cash flow first and consider property appreciation as a bonus, but I do know in certain markets that investors will hold for appreciation, which is a bit risky for me.  

The rents for this property will sustain the cost of mortgage even with 1 vacancy.

I know, however, that I am unable to speculate successfully, and I am skeptical of those who claim sustained success at doing so.'

(Amount of money you SPEND per year divided by sustainable rate of return = your retirement number) i.e. you spend $50,000 per year @ 4% safe withdrawal rate = 50,000/0.04 = $2M <- Financial Freedom.The goal isn't to beat some other investor, it's to reach a point that you have monetary security and the freedom to do what you truly want with life.