I think part of the issue was my desire to have him be as excited as I am, which I have come to accept may never be the case. 

Based on what laminate runs per LF installed I figure the 2cm granite is about twice as much, and 3cm is about 3x as much but it is so much more desirable.

The listing agent can then add the desired commission onto this net price when presenting it to buyers.

I'm glad to hear that my intuition on the desired product over in Springdale was spot on! 

If I were on the other side of town, I might have some peace of mind at least as to my own safety, but I feel like my decisions as a property manager are definitely influenced by that personal desire of self-preservation.

., very porous soil, while capable of changing the topography, may drain too fast to direct water away as you desire).

I can't speak for everyone, but my investment focus is on buy & hold duplexes outside of city limits, in desirable areas.

Buy after 2 years of consistent price declines or when you can get in a highly desirable area with a 6.5%+ yield.  

Only excellent photos of a bright, attractive and desirable property will grip the attention of prospective tenants.Screen prospective tenants - This is the critical task of the property manager.

The biggest challenge is determining which is right for you in your current circumstances, desired investment asset, financially, and experience wise.On that last note, operating a run down building in a more desirable area, if one can be found that actually offers a better value, won't require to many different skills than operating a "turn-key" building.