Some cities like Longview seem pretty strong, but other cities are dying. 

Bay windows or built-ins can be a subtle way of blending modern convenience with the character of Ardmore’s older architecture.

By the way, Phoenix’s rental market has been on fire lately, with a mix of strong appreciation and reliable tenant demand.

Sounds like you are in a pretty strong financial position.

Most of the easy "lipstick on a pig" transformations are gone - you're often looking at more serious rehabs to make the numbers work.That said, we do have some advantages: strong rental market (lots of students, young professionals), still relatively affordable deals, and good appreciation potential in many neighborhoods.

A lot of my clients buy in Alexandria because of the strong rental market and laid back laws on short and midterm rentals. 

Diversity is great, but the fundamentals for real property are too strong in my opinion. 

People who makes payment on time and every time understand the importance of building a strong credit profile.

It seems, obviously, that the method is strongly focused on the refinancing of the property post rehab.  

Focus on finding a replacement with strong tenant screening processes and performance guarantees.