Check tax records for physical properties of the home (number of beds, baths, sq ft, etc and compare to old listing information if available.  

The prices are very affordable compared to this side of the state and I think the returns may be a little higher percentage wise for rentals.  

I have absolutely no affiliation with B2R finance whatsoever and haven't heard of them since this post but when you come on a public forum (one that appears at the top of a lot of real estate related google searches) and are skeptical of a lender with no direct or indirect experience with them it is just not right to do in my opinion to just throw things out there with no basis.When the gentleman from B2R finance responded to your post you responded with a response not addressing the B2R rep and gave some vague skepticism of out of state lenders and their interest rates compared to your local lender.Not sure what your angle is here, but if you could clarify what your issue with B2R is we would all like to hear it.  

How should I compare/evaluate an existing apt complex (not my own) vs a condo I'm trying to rent?  

There are many comparable sales within the street and area justifying our asking price.

While it doesn't have your kid element, our story does have the crazy predictable components of life.I too am looking for an opportunity to work on this full time so we I can stay home and raise our future kids.Feel free to pm me if you want to talk.

I called around to several locksmiths to compare prices and all are similar.  

I would look for a restoration service like Servpro that specializes in fire/water damage, as compared to a contractor.

I think it is a case where there is no right or wrong answer across the board and each deal has to be viewed by its merits, returns, and how much is being lent compared to your own investment both time and money in the project.

The simplest is to work with a turn-key company, which has all the elements in place from finding the property, to rehabbing it, to placing a tenant, to managing it.