She claimed "air quality" and "water quality" problems among her chief concerns.

In your new hole, supplant with a high quality mulch soil mix.

Biggest thing IMO is getting close to the train station and have a high quality units that may not look attractive on paper the first few years but will have the ability to raise rents consistently long term. 

If an operator is not responding to you adequately - in timing or quality - prior to you wiring them $50,000, you have to ask yourself how will they respond after they already have your money? 

The big thing is to get started with a good, quality property.

CAN they actually price, start and complete a remodel thru to finished presentable and sellable quality?.

Good quality of life, good potential for appreciation over time, and an area that is unlikely to lose its draw for young professionals and college students for future tenants.

@Dennis Boettjer The best way I have found to find quality operators is by joining a Community focused specifically on passive investing in syndications.  

One thing I'd add is that backlink quality matters way more than quantity.

We loved providing quality housing to our tenants and they were fantastic.Cheers