Invest your time in really learning the market, and knowing your **** inside & out, then come up with a specific strategy & goal and your money will work a lot better for you, don't just jump into something because you have a couple bucks burning a hole in your pocket. 

Originally, people tells me, it's too shiny.Second, I used to get after tenant for holes in the wall, where they hang pictures, shelves etc..

The estimated rehab from looking at it was $10,000 (new windows, carpet, holes in the wall) but the bid from the contractor came back at $17,500 with $10,000 of that allocated to replacing the windows.  

This is the mess these tenants have on their porch and the holes dug by the dog.

For example, if there's a fist-sized hole in a wall that I fix and repaint myself with leftover supplies that I didn't have to purchase, then what?  

If this is what's happening, use a downspout extension to move the drainage further out from your exterior wall.Get the $200 dehumidifier.  

I'd add an air vent through the block first and build up the ground around the perimeter and extend gutters to ensure good drainage like Deanna alluded to.

You should want those people in your life (whether you like it or not) that will poke all of the holes they can in your deal.  

It takes a guy about 1 day to dig the hole.

The only issue that came up during inspection was two broken rafters, a couple disengaged shingles, a few holes in the vinyl siding, and cracks in the sidewalks.