To address your main concern about buying a stinker property: most of the time when a property looks good on paper but stinks in real life is because of an older property with a lot of deferred maintenance, hidden defects and capex issues.

Each one of them can make a huge difference and the installer will not tell you much of all the hidden gotcha's (his interest is to convince you to install as many panels he can slap on the roof as possible, regardless of the ROI).

They will provide an unbiased assessment of any potential hidden damage that could lead to long-term issues if left untreated.If the mitigation company deems repairs necessary, it's important to communicate this to the tenant and explain the potential risks of not addressing the issue promptly.

also you should know that san diego is #1 most appreciated city in US for 2023, so all strategy that work in san diego is appreciation , in appreciation town SF is the name of the game , dont focus outside of your market, invest locally, the hidden gem is at your own backyard.

I’ve seen a lot of positive posts and information online about tax deeds but I’m sure there are some hidden negatives as well that gurus online won’t talk about. 

Estimated Rent (based on neighborhood median) = $2800Total expenses including HOA, Capex, Property Mgmt, and 50% rule for maintenance = $2750Cash flow = $50  :(Do I hold onto this gem or sell it and move onto a new strategy??

Sometimes, there are hidden golden nuggets that can be missed.

That's just one thing I was made aware of as a possible variable to take into account. essentially I'm looking for hidden rental costs that I'm not aware of.

I hidden gem on the gulf coast but heavy in STR.

Are there a few gems out there, sure, but you have to be a serious hunter to find them.