These are slab on grade block construction houses.

If it was straight up that would be different, but the way it curves around, I would think you could start the driveway further south across the front of the house which would lengthen the driveway and allow for a less steep grade.  

But if your rate is 3.5 or so, bumping up to 5 or 5.5 is what you'd be looking at in the conventional loan invest grade mortgages, so it is a bit of a wash.  

The people in many of those neighborhoods have more firepower than I could conveniently carry and have less to lose by getting in a gunfight than I do so I wouldn't really want to do cash pickups in a war zone or even D grade neighborhood. 

Slabs will come in different grades depending on your price point.  

Exterior: is the soil/ walkways graded away from the house?

I am interested in finding a grade C property that I could turn into a B+ or A- minus with some love and TLC. 

Make sure you set the houses properly (proper grading can make or break a development)Ways to make additional revenue1.

To find a company that does credit checks you need to find one that allows you to actually see their credit report (be very careful as some will try and talk you into something less like a tenant grade).

So in my hometown I'd consider using a high-grade laminate floor (not Pergo) that will stand up to a lot of wear and tear.