@Steve Orluski it depends on what cities you’re comparing it too, taxes are more favorable than some like E.O crime is usually lower than other cities like Newark or Camden (per capita)it’s hard to paint any of these cities with a broad brush there are opportunities in all of them but what they all have in common is that it’s best that you learn each section of the city and spend time there before investing in each city the neighborhoods can be vastly different in some instances even the “bad” sections have “good” blocks 

I told them I wanted to cancel my application and get my deposit back. she sent several replies at first trying to brush me off and saying it doesn't work like that and she doesnt "think" I can get it back, none of which were backed by showing me legal proof where I signed that they said they could keep my money.

There's a group in Los Angeles that can provide 'tenant screening credit checks', but you give a FICO score as an input and they grade the tenant as A,B,C,D,E,F.You see zippo of the real data and only a broad-brush classification - - that's worthless IMO.

My question is would it help if I had an investor friendly RE agent to help me out or will I have to find another way to brush up on my analysis skills.

Where it gets tricky is that some folks brush over important details.

Lots of variables so don't think I'm brushing ya off :) Start with Jeff Willis and he can point you to the correct local officeGood luck!

This could be as little as clearing the land of brush, to having it professionally graded/leveled, to having municipal services (utilities/roads) brought to the site.

In the meantime I'm going to brush up on how to figure out rehab costs and hopefully pick up a book or two on seller financing deals.

It's not fair to paint all agents with the same brush, but many agents will set low exceptions so that they can easily clear them.2:  The investor putting an offer on the house will likely know the market better than the buyer.  

The correct address is 3921 Capers Ave, Columbia SC 29205http://www.trulia.com/homes/South_Carolina/Columbi...Looks like clearing out that overgrowth of trees and brush would help the visual appeal a lot.