So, there must be a way to do this properly, as they must be doing it.

I think it is just as indisputable that higher cost markets will produce greater value add via a proper rehab.Next question is does initial cash flow have any correlation to actual cash flow over a long hold. 

And proper screening prevents those people from even renting your place.

Take ownership of your mistake and learn to do the proper due diligence recommended above😊

that we’ve learned in our 24 years, managing almost 700 doors across the Metro Detroit area, including almost 100 S8 leases:Class A Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, 3-5 years for positive cashflow, but you get highest relative rent & value appreciation.Vacancy Est: Historically 10%, 5% the more recent norm.Tenant Pool: Majority will have FICO scores of 680+ (roughly 5% probability of default), zero evictions in last 7 years.Class B Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, decent amount of relative rent & value appreciation.Vacancy Est: Historically 10%, 5% should be applied only if proper research done to support.Tenant Pool: Majority will have FICO scores of 620-680 (around 10% probability of default), some blemishes, but should have no evictions in last 5 yearsClass C Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, high cashflow and at the lower end of relative rent & value appreciation.

.* Additional Charges: Jenny requested that I deposit on her checking account an additional $20-25k for her to purchase furniture, which I refused because I thought it was very strange, opting to give my card # instead.* Work Quality: Jenny never showed up to the house, she sent 2 people instead, she never mentioned she would not show up herself, she never asked for approval to send two others instead, they did not complete the job, and there were multiple unauthorized charges on my card.* Receipts and Expenses: Once I brought to Jenny's attention that we were 20k above budget, she refused for days to give me the receipts, saying that I needed to give her my credit card statement first.

Towson is great but I haven't seen anything in Towson proper.

Hardly anyone can prep properly, mask or dropcloth properly, cut in around trim and windows, get even coverage, etc. 

Credit Karma has a fantastic "score simulator" tool that you can use to project credit score changes (paying off balances, opening a new card, using an old card that has not been used in some time, just paying your bills on time for 6 or 12 months).

I can do that for you if you are properly prepared with reserves and credit.