I don't think there's anything wrong with going after Class D or warzone properties but I'd make it a focus, a laser focus, and the meat-and-potatoes of your long-term strategy.  

-Alonzo [keyword trigger: Permian Basin west Texas Advice help oil field Odessa Midland 79762 asset investment real estate single family home SFH meat and potatoes]

License and have attended a couple of 3-day REI Seminars (I understand the meat and potatoes).

What I can tell you is that this site has a ton of information and you'll find that most of the tried and true ways that others use to find their leads, are going to be your meat and potatoes.

Under sink reverse osmosis system. ~$150 from HD.Solar panels on roof.Automatic sprinkler system.Would these be worth the expense?

As someone in the trades, you already know that anyone with an IQ over potato gives ZERO cares about promises of future referrals, but you also know that past actual referrals means the world.

Before I started I remember a mentor telling me that RE investing is like potato chips - it's impossible to stop after just one! 

You can make money with cheap properties by passing on the hot potato: buy one in good shape, rent it out for a few years and then quickly sell it to the tenant, before it needs a new roof.

It seems this state has one or two big players in each market then several small potatoes like me.

For small potatoes like me, I've found that the cupboards seem extremely bare when looking for contractors.