I think its unrealistic for individuals who cant buy a few million dollars worth to think this is some type of retirement strategy. 

Most buyers want top dollar for their property.

In Mexico alone, a country I know particularly well, it's billions and billions of dollars.

No need to understand the overall multi-trillion-dollar mortgage market since you've got it figured out.

She buys them distressed, renovates them, and then sells them herself for top dollar. 

Do what it takes to immediately get the unit in excellent condition for renting at top dollar.  

We would call the CFPB for clarification on what was/wasn’t allowed for advertising and they would refuse to answer, but would give us $10,000+ dollar fines if we guessed it wrong (@mortgagenmore).”On Taxes, is the 1031 Exchange still Legal?

Yeah, a person who carries food is worth at least a couple hundred per hour but the person navigating and running your multi hundreds of thousands of dollars if not millions of dollars transaction, why can't they do it for $17.50hr...... yup, makes perfect sense right....... 

This is the quantifiable data that operators need to pull the trigger on buying the high dollar items.

Quote from @Shawn Sopic: When you bought it, it didn't have A/C, so I suspect other buyers will do the same.Installing A/C may not provide a dollar-for-dollar return, but it can make the home more attractive to buyers and enable you to sell it faster.If you spend $10,000 to install the A/C, you can expect it to increase the sales price $5,000 or less.