You need to place a value on these repairs and then pick your battles. 

San Antonio you better Pick up the pace.  

I seriously am not just making a post to crap on Lawton, and my experience was over a decade ago, but I just picked up a client from Oklahoma today that said: "Yikes, sorry you got Fort Sill, Lawton is the armpit of this state."

2) Owners NEVER take into account the time required to:- Evaluate & select materials- Order materials- Pick up materials- Coordinate access with tenant- Dispose of waste- Scan and process receipts2) According to Angie's List, labor cost can be $250 to $700https://www.angi.com/articles/how-much-does-microwave-instal... 

I just closed on a duplex in Dayton for $189K $1100 a door and have an investor closing on a 4 unit for $325K in Indy with great rents that cash flow over $1000 a month.I have seen Indiana, & Ohio pick up some major heat over the last 3 years for investors while Boise falls somewhat short.

The joke used to be that you needed to wait only long enough to put one pen down and pick up the other pen.A refinance is not a taxable event. 

Pick a focus and run with it.

Anyhow...sounds like you're on the same page with @Shawn Parsh about picking the worst property in the best neighborhoods  >>> I get it, and trust me I'm always looking for those gems (if/when you find them, they get snatched up fast!!).

Maybe you can help the investors you meet with all the miscellaneous tasks involved with investing like picking up rent checks, turning over properties for new tenants, or even just driving by occasionally to make sure their properties are in good condition.I'd also recommend spending a lot of time looking at all the homes you're targeting in your area, both online and in person.

If you live in Macomb County, you already know about as much as you need to know to pick good real estate locations.When buying a stock, the investor has no control over how well it does and we all pay the same price, so we look for stocks with hot growth prospects.