My house is nearly all wood floors .

Like Hardie planks for that old plank wood look or lap siding to be specific.

Wood flooring adds value but costs and is also not good for water areas.

LOL I only have about 95k left on a 400K property in Antioch and more than likely will end up buying here in my neck if the woods. 

We also have 2 rental properties that are cash flow positive and (knock on wood) doing great.

Here's how it broke down:Purchase Price $197,000Appraised Value $ 230,000Rents- $700/month x 4Type: Quadplex (all units 2/2)Built: 2003 (wood frame/ concrete slab foundation/ metal roof)Financing: VA 30 year fixed ~3.5%PITI= $1374 /moHOA= $270/moUtilities- Electricity sub metered and water sub metered So my wife and I were relocating due to a military change of assignment.

The podcast with Kevin Wood will tell you more: https://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2016/03/24/bp-podcast-1670-25-units-year-part-timekevin-wood/Feel free to PM me if you want to talk further.

I'd stick with a pre-primed mdf or real wood base with a 1/4 round on the bottom to conceal the gap.

Do we need to fill-in the bench wood-frame with the cement ? 

@Shane Woods Appreciate the warm welcome!