The tough part is finding someone who genuinely cares about your progress and growth as an investor.

If you don't care about that I have done glue-down vinyl planks, and they tend to run about $1/sf and another $.25/sf for the glue, and $.50-.75 for luan plywood underlayment.

Just be careful is all :). 

You will need to be very careful though as the areas vary, not only by blocks but actually street by street.What your looking to spend and your safety level will dictate more of what areas to look into.   

If you get a potential buyer and that's a deal breaker for them just offer to take care of it at that point. 

The town of Surprise, AZ is somewhat of an example of this. 

However, if you decide to look out of state, or even in California cities like Oakland or Stockton or San Bernardino, you'll need to think carefully about crime.

I don't know about other brokerages, but the one I went to just cared that you passed the state exam.

This is a sign of an elevated market.

We have people posting borderline shady antics in here daily   I don't get when a person passes why the landlord has to  wait weeks be4 taking care of business.