The area is desirable for people on a fixed income, since there are a lot of services here and housing is relatively cheap.It's a real shame, because Longview does have a lot to offer - small town charm, I-5 accessibility.That said, I do provide support to folks kicking the tires in Longview - neighborhoods, driving by properties, meet for coffee, etc.

https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/223/topics/168016-3rd-times-a-charm--i-just-closed-a-12-unit-apartment-complex-for-under-1500-out-of-pocket

I noticed many of the homes there have "names", and usually some kind of plague, or sign outside displaying it to add some charm to the house.  

We have moved to hardwired-interconnected with battery backup (in older buildings we use the ones that interconnect wirelessly if we cannot easily pull a 14/3 between the detectors).We also make it very clear in our lease that disabling or impairing the functionality of any fire/gas detection or suppression equipment is a minimum $200.00 fine and cause for termination of the tenancy.

A house like this has zero curb appeal or charm, and color is the easiest and cheapest way to give it some personality.I'm very aware different locales have wildly different attitudes and characters, have been to Nawlins many times, and as I wrote, not suggesting replicating the wildest of color schemes found in the Quarter, but as an example of how completely transforming a bit of color can be for a tiny house.Here are a few more examples, some from the Quarter.

Charming small town feel, with close proximity to everything that MPLS has to offer.

Works like a charm.

I read a review on line where a person used it in their carpet cleaning machine to get old stains out of an off-white berber carpet and it worked like a charm.

It is your job as a REI (IMHO) to suppress the risks best you can in every deal no matter how it is procured (Friend, REO, MLS and etc.)  

Best success I have had is print off the jumbo postcards from vistaprint find the largest broker in your area buy a couple $5 starbucks gift cards (for the front desk assistants), show up, charm the front desk and ask them put a flyer/postcard in every agent's mailbox.