I don't think there is any easy way to pull a foreign background check (although my guess is it is country specific).

She sounds like a giant PITA who will only get worse,This is actually a gift to you - gives you a very valid reason to get rid of a bad tenant.

Also, after reading RPI by Brandon Turner, I'm aware of multiple strategies, but since I've never actually invested or bought a property yet, I feel like I'm overwhelemd by all the options, and find it hard to get started. 

No actual profit last year.

I am searching into the Plant City, FL area and actually going down to see a place this week.

LOL -  I actually like tax season now. :)  This year was a $45k return! 

Find out what your market is like in Sept (guessing quieter than the summer) and see if you can get the tenants to move out sooner. 

Depending on when it was installed, it could have a stabilizing frame or could actually have sand holding it in place.

Are you actually living in Cincy?

In terms of actual areas in the bay, do folks recommend one of the following:South Bay <SC, Sunnyvale>; East Bay <Berkeley>; TriValley <Dublin> or SFOr would you recommend sitting on the sidelines, wait and watch, and do a HYSA/CD to see how/where the market heads ?