I have an Electrical Engineering degree but haven't designed anything in over 9 years having moved into more of a project management role.

Not to burst your bubble however it doesn't work that way unless you can attract clients because you have become an agent rather than being one.

Should I buy something in a less attractive neighborhood?

I have deals in place waiting to be unloaded to any buyer who has a need for these beautiful properties (I will be designing each property myself, yes and you're welcome)!

I have even seen inside floors stained, and it was extremely attractive. 

Miami is been talking about casinos for years and it does not seem to be happening in the next few years, Cuba will attract a lot of visitors looking for the Caribbean Vegas, especially now that new charters have been issued for some Cruise lines and ferry companies.

The cost of other (non-new construction) houses in the neighborhood have no relationship to the cost you'll incur to build a new house.Your costs will be based on a lot of factors:- Location- Level/type of finishes- Style of house- Size of house- Whether you GC it yourself or hire a builder- The types of contractors you use- Your negotiating ability- How strategic you are with your designs to keep costs downI've built houses for $60/sf, and I've built similar houses in other locations with different contractors for $90/sf. 

We've staged before and it's about 2k for design / delivery / haul away and 1k a month for rental.

This is largely based on the idea that any mice, insects or whatever are attracted to something the tenant is doing (leaving out food or crumbs) and therefor after an initial period it’s their problem.

All you are required to do is watch a few videos, take some notes, and then write letters: to the various Original Credit Agencies (OCA), like bank credit cards; Credit Agencies (CA) you have gotten collection letters from; to the big three credit reporting agencies (CRA), Experian, Equifax and TransUnion, who report what they receive from the OCAs and the CAs, whether accurate or not.Mike Roberts, founder of Credit Solutions, has a great free program designed to help you rebuild your credit.