Be patient. 

Lower risk areas and properties, investors will be willing to pay more for that safety, thus a lower cap rate. 

Should I stick with my current approach and be patient?

The city can also enforce that you have to make certain improvements mainly around fire safety that will be costly. 

@Taylor L. is right patient evaluation is very important in deciding who what where and when.  

Would you consider it equivalent to have a licensed electrician inspect work performed by a non-licensed electrician for safety and code compliance?

Also made sure that all glass within maybe 5 feet for a door was made out of safety glass, and then once it was completed that the egress windows in bedrooms opened to the size required for egress. 

At the same time remember that real estate is a long-term play, so be patient while you build momentum.

My advice would be, stay patient.

This takes time so be really patient with yourself.If you have alot of questions, get organized and attack each one with prioritization.