Remote work empowers a national leveling of incomes completely new and unique to anything before.

Now that is a very high level example but the appreciation is not gone if that makes sense you will capture the ballpark same appreciation if the properties are comparable.  

I think the before vs after pictures really speak primarily to your experience and ability to execute a project so it can help lenders gain comfort with future projects and allow you demonstrate what level of detail you except out of your contractors.

For example, the stairway is not level and you would have to scrap the house and rebuild to live here.

Since you're analytic savvy, run some high level amortization schedule scenarios to see how much equity you gain through annual principal payments.

It’s great to hear you’re ready to take things to the next level in the residential space.

The answer to this will come down to comfort level, funds available, and strategy you are looking to implement. 

A local investor will be best equipped to get repairs and renovation done at fair prices, set rents at appropriate levels, and help select qualified tenants.

I sold my company to a national PMC named PURE,  they have a large footprint in California and are always looking for people at most levels. 

Just a level of comfort of the landlord, which we know.For me though, if I'm not getting something around the low teens in cash on cash return, I don't think I'd bother with real estate.