Instead they go about it a** backwards and add more red tape and more complications costing the city and it's residents more money

That can be expensive and will likely cost between 15 and 20% of the revenue (and that doesn't often include the cleaning fees) which may mean that you don't make a profit. 

It has been a very bad and costly experience. 

While the borrowing costs are higher, I’m exploring strategies where the returns could offset this.

I can promise you that my first deal was TERRIBLE, but I lived at a reduced monthly cost to living than renting/buying a single family and that is what mattered. 

I believe this is what they call a pier and beam foundation which I have no experience with so I have no idea what it would cost to fix. 

Initially the numbers were 40k for rehab cost Lessons learned?

When a water heater breaks at 9pm on a Sunday I get an email saying it happened, it’s been fixed and it cost $1200 give or take.

My personal opinion is that, while shifting investments into real estate may be the right move for your situation, there is likely a lot of work to be done before you get to that step to avoid a potentially costly mistake. 

He told me that without installing a sump pump system (at a cost of $12k), the foundation will continue to deteriorate, which could eventually lead to bowing basement walls—an issue that could cost upwards of $50k to fix.The inspector asked if the previous homeowner disclosed any water damage.