I was looking at Fresno, CA and it seemed like a lot of the properties that looked promising were located in the tougher parts of town where crime rate, tenant turn over and problems were high. 

I always try and start the lowest I can without getting told to take a hike.I'd be more open to a higher offer in So Cal where cheap inventory can be tougher to find but out there there are other deals to be had.

Sometimes it helps for the tenant to think in terms of - oh God, do I want a different landlord who might be tougher on me? 

Definitely tougher to get tenants in the winter months. 

I suggest growing a tougher skin. 

In QB, a lot tougher to add in stuff down the road if you don't have your basic structure right for expense/income tracking/reporting.My wife is pretty sharp with QB, but it took her some experimentation for a while on our rentals.

Winter is a tougher time to rent where I am and you have a less choice crop of renters - lots of first timers, people being evicted or can't afford their current place, etc.

Exterior is tougher to begin with and semi-gloss is so much easier to clean and keep clean.  

It's generally tougher to find a place to rent than it is the end of the month. 

The latter Claim of Right laws typically require much more tougher standards as to prove up and due process.