But there is hope... if you drive through the 4th ward area, you can clearly tell which properties are owned (single family homes with kept lawns and neatly decorated) and which properties are rentals (usually a broken window or two, falling apart porches, messy yards)... the closer to the single family-dense parts in the 4th ward, the better chance you have of getting a rental property that hasn't been laid to waste that you can purchase for a fairly cheap price. 

There are so many different opinions and mine is just another one of them, so take it or leave it, the beauty of it all is you can do what you are comfortable with and what will work for you!

For all you know, the owner's late mother may have lovingly chosen the décor.

A fridge and microwave and then paint and put up some nice decorations. 

It is a beautiful area but because of the zoning and rules up there it would be difficult for the area to "blow up" and have a ton of new growth.

A beautiful spacious kitchen can make or break a rental.

This year, I finally made the leap and purchased a duplex and a SFH, all rented, all cash flowing beautifully, but have a question in regards to business structure and setup. 

We added value by making a accent while in the living room, as well as refreshing all the furniture and decorations, painting the property, making a back door. back door out of the master bedroom because there was no way to get to the backyard without having to go through the side as well as some landscaping & new washer dryer.What was the outcome?

You don't know the law, you don't know how to handle difficult tenants, and you aren't local to work on it.This is what Ohio law says: “The tenant shall not unreasonably withhold consent for the landlord to enter into the dwelling unit in order to inspect the premises, make ordinary, necessary, or agreed repairs, decorations, alterations, or improvements, deliver parcels that are too large for the tenant’s mail facilities, supply necessary or agreed services, or exhibit the dwelling unit to prospective or actual purchasers, mortgagees, tenants, workmen, or contractors.”I would give the tenant a short, direct warning that they have 72 hours to coordinate with the vendor and set a schedule for repairs.

At the end the beautiful thing is not the destination but the journey.