No matter where you are, you can do a lot of research on ZIP codes, finding the houses that meet your criteria. 

What zip codes would meet the criteria described above?

You can pick up a super nice, big vanity for $700 - $800..Check this one..http://www.chansestore.com/q036m-1.html$670 for a BEAUTIFUL 48" vanity..

Tax is so broad that it's imperative to have a CPA very knowledgeable with the tax codes.

Do both - go to the meetups and REIAs and find out what the buying level is (some buy at 70% ARV, some go even higher, some need to be at 60 or 65%), learn a target market (perhaps the zip code you live in) and start marketing to it.  

If your house is SAFE and up to code, you should be fine.  

A good article on the subject from our local rag:Experts predict housing, population shifts in Baton Rouge after historic flooding http://www.theadvocate.com/louisiana_flood_2016/article_869a1806-6654-11e6-b4f5-17157281a229.html

I'd use the network option and filter by your zip code.

I will do some more analyzing as we go forward and really do some looking into those area codes.

Self-managing it from Seattle might be problematic depending on how lucky you get.Car insurance rates are particularly high in 98418 due to all of the above.The sex offenders residing in that zip code are extremely high as well.