Not only will it justify my higher rents, but it makes the neighborhood look nicer and allows (potentially) for other properties to attract higher quality tenants.

If a motivated seller doesn't need the money upfront - seller financing can be an attractive option.

Extrapolating just one step further, I'd say that the quality and location of the building will definitely affect your ability to attract the right kind of financially strong tenants over the long run - whether that is commercial or residential - and therefore affect your long-term success with the property.

However, good deals are drying up and I am planning to open myself for some other areas with more attractive price/cash flow properties. 

I originally joined BP to learn how to make my property more attractive to potential buyers/developers and in a Pygmalion like twist, I am now contemplating developing it myself. 

You will need to find actual contracts and get them vetted.I'd also reccomend a mentor who specializes in these transactions, and learning other strategies than just one in case lease optioning doesn't  work since it's only attractive to certain parties with certain situations.Just my 2 pennies.

If it won't cash-flow, perhaps your next best bet is to attract local Flippers who specialize in rehabbing for the retail Owner-occupier market?

@Shanda WilliamsMany Realtors will make an installment sale look not attractive.Here are steps I take to make installment sales attractive.3 columns1.

Maybe in your market there is something attractive about the REO's that draw the good agents to that area.  

." * Learned how to launch a website - not hard but definitely time-consuming ^^ * And of course, helping to organize this meetup that continues to attract investors from all over who are interested in learning, networking, and empowering themselves with knowledge and contacts.Part of the reason I write these posts is that my path into real estate investing has been 'non-conventional' and maybe it can help others looking for a way to start out.I couldn't do the traditional driving for dollars as I'm an ocean away.