Tonight at a restaurant, I saw a professional-looking metal sign posted (along with a bunch of other signs) that was asking for a real estate investor apprentice.

Replace any metal p-traps with PVC p-traps ($4).

Nothing against plumbing or carpentry, but based on easily mitigated through proper procedure increased pay for bodily risk, plus the benefits of being able to upgrade your own properties, I see electrician as the most desirable of trades.

Don't go cheap on the basket strainer and waste line either, use metal!

HVAC units typically last less than 10 years, anything made of metal will corrode, and the salt buildup will require regular cleaning of windows, exterior siding, etc. 

then in the 50s 60 70s  you had land sales men  ( Glen Garry Glen Ross movie) and then you had metal siding salesmen  ( pushing tin)I grew up with a Dad that was a land sales men in the 60s and the movie dead on accurate of how the business was done.Then it morphed to timeshare sales or as its affectingly know Crime share..  

I met all of the other criteria, including income, and I wanted to make sure my rental history started out right! 

The tenant doesn't like using the central air conditioning, which I suppose is great for me (when I'm not there).The first drain I took out this year was made of some sort of cheap base metal and cracked under normal use.

That isn't a metal frame and bed in a box.

You can find something at every price point imaginablePeople will talk about crime and taxes, but as long as you factor taxes into your numbers and are aware of the areas you are investing you will be fine.We invest all over the city and will continue to keep the pedal to the metal.