The concrete craze was big about 10 years a go .It was like every tv show and magazine featured it There was even a push for concrete counter tops.The fact was it grew so fast but the skill levels of the installers never kept up with the demand I think it looks great in city loft type dwellings but I would rather have wood or tile in my own applications .The expense is another factor that would make me pass

Welcome @Constance Woods!!

Your plan is to live there for a year or so and then acquire another property and rent that one out.I'm saying this even though I did buy a property sight unseen as a personal residence

In two years my wife and I made these improvements:- Tiled the floor, refinished the kitchen, paid for granite countertops, installed new lighting,  new ceilings fans,  new hinges,  new door knobs, built a shed, installed new wood on the deck frame, installed new pillars and supporting beams on the front patio, replaced 50 feet of fence, installed a light in attic, repaired and reprogrammed the alarm, replaced almost the entirely both bathrooms, painted,and paid to have 4 windows installed in the bedrooms. 

You buy an older used home for 2-3 k cash, paint over the wood paneling to brighten the room up, fix any soft spots on the floor, put in some outdoor carpeting, and VIOLA- quick sale for 5-7k, allowing you to build more of a war chest. 

Good afternoon, and welcome to BP.I'm right in your neck of the wood, and I very much agree with you on the diagnosis of the area, with some caveats of course.What is your real estate experience?

A caveat though, if you have a water fixture on the second floor and high dollar amenities like hard woods be sure you understand the risks.  

Investing in trip (or even two) to get local knowledge upfront will save you making multiple trips if / when things go bad.Without getting into analysis paralysis, 'sight unseen' is risk on top of risk.

Don't lose sight about keep reserves as unexpected things do happen.Good Luck!!!

I live out in the middle of the woods so HGTV hasn't been something that I've had the opportunity to watch much of, however if I did have access to cable, I'm sure it would be one of my guilty pleasures hahahaThere really isn't anything quite like actually DOING the work and seeing how it's done.