I really want to get into real estate investment, but my local area (Pattaya, Thailand) has some rather undesirable traits that are making me reconsider.

 since you are installing Durock on the floor your only choice is a wire under floor heat, usually wire mats, ( if you did a mud floor you could a hot water tubing system). talk to your electrician about choices and his recommendations

As I have stated I always find more qualified applicants.Tenants are people, I treat them like gold, Applicants are not people they are a collection of facts and data, used to weed out undesirables (no disrespect intended to Trump supporters). 

Some prefer high negotiation properties and others prefer to avoid negotiation altogether and pick up the most "undesirable" homes because they know how they best capitalize on their ROI.I'm happy to share as much as you want to know. 

(I am also aware that Baltimore, possibly even more than other cities, has a huge spectrum as far as neighborhoods, with some being very undesirable.)I'm looking to invest in buy and hold single family properties on the lower end of the spectrum, my budget right now is properties costing less than $80k.My question is twofold:1.

Every investor I've talked to around me said there biggest regret was buying single family's and buying in undesirable neighborhoods.

There was also no insulation.As a single mom on a set income from the veterans, 90% was done alone, including hanging, taping and mudding Sheetrock, the tiling and flooring.

Which one suits your personal style best and seems most likely to be able to work for YOU.Nothing is guaranteed in this business and without knowledge you could find yourself spinning your wheels in the mud and not making much every year, or losing portions of your investable money do to lack of knowledge.That being said, study up on some of the different ways to make money in this business, and pay attention to the risk involved with each, both time risk and money risk, (risk/reward) and find YOUR Sweet Spot of Personal Effort and Risk.Then once you have chosen a particular path (to invest your money) move forward, paying attention to the state of the economy in the area you are investing in.There are many roads to your goal, figure out which one is best for YOU, and then NEVER GIVE UP in the face of adversity....because this business is not all Sunshine and Roses...but it can be very profitable--(IF) you know what you are doing.Good Luck!  

Both would help put up sheet rock and mud and tape and paint through the years.

We believe that we will attract undesirable tenants who are willing to rent a unit that is not clean.