However I do like the layout of DT Whittier compared to its neighbors, it looks clean and organized.Are you focusing on other areas?

Learn all that you can about everything and remember that the profits are all the same color of green.

I don't want to waste my time or theirs. 3X rent, clean criminal, eviction and credit report.

I am thinking about providing new tenants with a welcome basket of basic cleaning supplies and household items like: paper towels, toilet paper, toilet brush, plunger, dish soap, and all purpose cleaner.    

By fixing the strike price, you have given the option holder an ceiling on the price of the property and made it a little easier for them to plan and save.When the holder exercises the option, it is just like purchasing any property - they have their 5-20% down payment; they've cleaned up their credit and have pre-qualified for the mortgage.  

The $900 covers cleaning cost and compensates us for the hassle and we get a tenant who will be in there and will be happy and will be able to pay.I suggest you get him out as quickly as possible to avoid non-payment (technically if he doesn't pay it will take a while to evict anyway and you'll spend a lot of money). 

, cleaning between vacancies ($200+/unit?)

I have a perfect credit history (I kept my US credit cards for 10 years even while living abroad :)), I will also be using my wife's rental income (she is a green card holder with an almost non-existing credit).I am looking to buy this house and sell after I have lived in it for 2 years for tax reasons.Thank you for any tips!

Living there in that class is not easy but doable: if the neighbors clean your snow and cut your grass, you are part of the neighborhood already...please make sure to not disappoint them and give something back to the community...I would also recommend to read @Al Wiliamson, how to be a Leading Landlord, his series of threads here on BP about taking action and change a neighborhood.also beside your family discount, what does you dad and granpa told you about the neighborhood?

There was a couple dumpsters of clean wood and siding that was recycled and all of the concrete was definitely separated and recycled separately.