I am a young investor hoping to eventually make real estate my full-time career and would welcome any opportunity to learn about syndication and add value to your current business/portfolio any way I can.Thanks!

IMO this is driven by access to decision makers. 

Renovations took 2 full months and about 8 different sub-contractors including landscapers, painters, an electrician, wood floor re-finishers, granite installers, cabinet makers and carpet installers.

We DVR and watch Flip or Flop and enjoy it (odd how their projects always seem to turn into money makers....)I've bought @J Scott book on flipping houses, but in our small market the really killer opportunities are few and far between. 

As mentioned in previous posts, tenants will push your boundaries as far as you let them.I recommend that you make rent due on the 1st, with no grace period.

Here's what I gleaned as a summary of hardening tips for reducing turnover/maintenance costs:panasonic bath fans with timers in bathrooms4 coats of poly on wood floorsdouble door stopstile floors, showers vs surroundssingle lever shower valve vs. doublereplace toilets with steel parts/mechanicals whenever it starts to runKwikset smart keys (some debate over efficacy)door stoppers on all hingesremove pop-up drains and replace with commercial drains2' drain lines from sinks with an accessible clean outbuy a key cutter - maker for $50 on craigslistGranite tile counters - need a diamond polisher and tile sawUsed Fixed vs. friction shower rodsKeyed deadbolt and passage knob on outside doors to prevent accidental lockout5/8' fire core drywall - can't put a fist thru it and its fire-resistant1/4" board to back up towel rodspolyurethane cabinets under sink to pre seal and drain water to the floor2x4 base under cabinets to prevent particle board cabinets from failing where they meet the floorVinyl scrap under sink and up the back wallBest of luck!

But bottom line, if you can buy/hold on peninsula or Oakland, you can make real money on future appreciation.

(But we did buy a small refrigerator, microwave & coffee maker for the downstairs apartment, similar to what would be found in a hotel room.) 

Hair drier, iron or steamer,Coffee maker,Some oil and herbs in the kitchen "Good quality" linens can grab you a few good review mentions

They just built a huge tennis center near berry college and the ACC tennis championships were just played there, some movie filming, minor league baseball and they're getting better with promoting our rivers, hiking trails and historic downtown.From what I've read I think Huntsville is similar in that it's a bit undiscovered because it's in a weird spot in NE Alabama but has tons going for it because of the Aerospace and other manufacturing and it also has the education and medical draw for the area.