For example, rumors have it that the Chevron plant laid off a very large portion of its workers recently.

if you are landscaping out there def. no or few plants.... maybe plastic under rock to  keep water further away (sloped of course)

Compare that to a rookie who may have only flipped a couple and already suffered a loss and the average can be quite skewed. 

I Live in Plant City so my perfect world is having my rentals from Brandon to Lakeland.  

However I consider that a small price to pay because I would have been stretching myself way too thin.I apologized to the seller, and he was not happy, and I am worried that my reputation as an investor will suffer as a result. 

Since we moved to en suite laundry we have observed the following:utilities are in the hands of the tenants;machines suffer less vandalism and, if damage does occur, we know who is responsible;we can charge $30 - $50 more rent per month for the convenience.We supply the laundry units principally because it a) reduces damage to the building of tenants trying to move their own laundry machines in and out, and b) we can be certain they are installed properly with overflow pans and floor drains.When we started doing this we were told it would be a maintenance nightmare - a refrain often read here on BP - this has not been our experience.  

He could just be suffering from low occupancy for coming into the market late for this school year.

So even if you wouldn't win, its a good enough seed to plant in their head that you might.....Also, I might be inclined to call and give them their 24 notice that you're coming for a showing every other night and then simply no show - just to keep them on edge a bit and make things difficult for them since they're being difficult with you.That said, I don't know if I've ever thought it was right to do showings while the tenant is there - as long as they've paid their rent current.

Having been in the Navy, I know that area well (I was stationed there for 2+ years), and you are suffering by not having central AC.

I think it depends on the investor, but in general, you don't hear people talking about "Real Estate Traders" or "RE Speculators"   As the stock market turns nasty in the next 18 months (my prediction) I believe housing will suffer a bit.