Or are you looking to maximize cash flow with a value add property where you might have to deal with a property that has some significant deferred maintenance or tenant issues in a lower grade area. 

In the Greater Cleveland region, you can find what you're looking for in the B grade cities of Lakewood and Parma, zip codes 44107, 44129, 44134.You'll find $100-150,000 MF (likely a two-family) with a solid tenant base, specifically in Lakewood where many millennials and young professionals working in downtown Cleveland prefer to live.

We have a house with a slab on grade and no basement. 

Not sure if this is relevant to the area but below grade belongings there was limited coverage.

Obviously tract-built builder's grade should never be compared to custom built.

They have a grade system that tells you the good, the bad, and the ugly.Have a great week.

I've been using Ben Moore's Super Hide, considered a commercial grade coating.

there is lots of great advise on here. there are tone of more experienced people on here.Some ideas;Sherwin Williams has great prices on contractor grade carpeting and they install.Sherwin Wiliiams has great paint too - ProMar 200 has great hiding characteristics - retail is $22 per gallon.

If I'd only made it through the 3rd grade...

I could have done the very cheapest grade for about $1200.