However, professional remediation is essential for quality results, complete documentation, and assurance that the job meets industry standards.

I assure that is the conversation in those board rooms "ah, almost feel sorry for the suckers, but hey, business is business". 

For my rental in New Jersey, I have set a deductible of $60 whenever I make a visit to do any kind of repairs for the tenant.

Not really a town people "visit" much, yet.

Currently living in Lincoln but frequently visit Omaha and hear papillon is nice.

If you are looking for long-term appreciation, another asset might work better, but you won't get the same benefits of being able to go visit it.

If you're near a medical and/or law school, monthly rentals are preferred by those who are preparing for board exams over vacation rentals as well as by visiting professors. 

I visit Warm Lake, Idaho every year (2.5 hrs north of Boise) and have seen Boise transformed over the last 25+ years.

This often comes as a huge surprise very late in the process of a sale.Sure, the title company may have screwed up (they may have even listened to the borrower assuring them no, I don't have a 2nd) but ultimately the debt is for the original borrower to pay.

They visited Waco on the Magnolia tour idea and saw the houses, saw the prices and wished they could have moved there and just commuted maybe 1 or 2x a month for the office meeting.   90min drive every day would have been killer, but a couple of times a month they thought wasn't bad.