I do plan to continue to let an agent handle all my sales, but I am not sure if I will be easier for a buyer to sue me since there may be a perception I am held to a higher standard since I am in the business even though I am not representing myself.

The latter can have a huge influence.I am of the opinion that Europe has been taking its medicine the past few years by making efforts to reduce government debt and the burden on society.

In fact, I just found a pre-forclosure home on the Historical Society in Tualatin that may be a shot for good returns on a flip or even a cash-flowing property.

I'd suggest you look at a large public housing development and the issues of public perception, which steers your marketing abilities regardless of rent pricing, low, low-moderate or moderate.You also end up competing against yourself, one unit will always be more desirable, you'll learn to stager rents and not show some units until others may be rented.It's great to go in and redevelop an area, improving and increasing values, but it's not just dependent on the dollars like looking at the ARV of one property.

Commitment is waning throughout society

But maybe a more important question to ask (from a real estate investing point of view) is this: What's the public perception of the level of risk? 

Perception of values comes into play. 

https://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/9232/55313-intro-to-section-8---your-perceptions-vs-my-realities

But when you do not have to pay out to Uncle Sam that drives your dollars a lot further.You also are perceptive in respect of the list of buyers needed - and that is a priority in making things come together.

Perception is everything.