I just completed a higher end renovation in florida that i converted into a vacation rental and we met with a number of granite countertop installers that had their own sources for real wood cabinets.    

That includes wood/tile floors, real wood cabinets, prefab granite countertops, tile tub surrounds, SS appliances.  

However, floors are painfully obvious, and most observed, as are cabinets and countertops by buyers viewing your property....

Can someone tell me if granite is indeed the standard for most new construction countertops?

Other considerations are HVAC, hardwoods, granite counter tops or re-doing the master bath.

As a relatively new investor i do not know the best places to buy larger materials ( cabinets, countertops, etc ... ).

I have walked through the property personally with my net sheet and will be spending 100% of my time renovating it myself minus a few projects like granite countertops and painting the exterior.

For example, repairing a broken or unsafe countertop with similar materials may be ok; replacing a formica countertop with granite probably not.As to how often the property may be redeemed, many factors affect that; is there mortgage, are the previous owners alive, etc. 

The units could use flooring, countertop, and paint updating, but it isn't necessarily needed.  

Cabinets, countertops, sinks, tubs molding, tile, carpet... the list goes on and on.