I have Corian in my own house, and while I love the material (integrated sink, totally seamless, renewable) I don't think it would be  appropriate for a rental property - it can be repaired easily but it's too soft for renters.

No guesswork, no missing paperwork, just a seamless system that is easy to use and gets you your reports and a consultation on time, every time. 

i.e. cash-flow, appreciation, blend of both, etc. 

I've been following the California market (quite high entry cost, even away from coast), Texas (austin cap rates too low, houston could be interesting) and Florida (seems a good blend of low entry costs and decent cap rates). 

My opinion/preference right now is a blend of risk profiles within one asset class.

so in my mind having a healthy blend of free and clear and some with debt is a nice thing to strive for.. with the ultimate goal when you think your going to live on this income the rest of your life.. you want them paid for.. one other reason come 10 to 20 years into these things Major cap ex is going to start happening..

It doesn't mean that is a bad idea, as you never know someone may appear while you have your GC license and it will be a seamless transition, just thought it was something worth considering.  

The damage was visible as cosmetically the repair is not blended in to the rest of the floors.What assurance should I ask from the seller to ensure that the root cause of the standing water damage is taken care of ?

Technology advancements such as email, phone calls, skype has enabled communication with a remote CPA to be seamless.

Slate is the new stainless @Lucas Carl , a blend of silver and black.