As a newbie to BP, I can't comment on the old website, but I can say that the new site is great...easy to navigate, good visual layout and SO much valuable content!

You could also paint the deck, and/or add texture to it for a visual change.  

However, I am having trouble visualizing structural improvements that bring the value to $50 to $60K.

So 'bureau of labor statistics birmingham unemployment' takes us right to: https://www.bls.gov/eag/eag.al_birmingham_msa.htmFor crime stats, you can go to the FBI: https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2015/crime-in...Bear in mind these are just numbers out of context, so it would take some extra work to make them mean anythingThis is also helpful and more visual: http://www.city-data.com/crime/Bear in mind that any city center is going to have higher crime due to the larger population.

Seeing the property gives you the visual as opposed to a lead source.

Latent defect is defined as a defect that is not easily found by a careful visual inspection. 

Everything thus far has been visual from online and drive by-s.I can stick with a regular buy and hold (which I still plan to do as I grow my portfolio) but love the idea of infinity returns being able to pull my initial 'down payment' out.Thoughts?

The visuals and the character, I personally think It's an illusion especially If you are not living in the home who really cares.

I used different bright colored masking tape to temporarily mark each pipe, to help me visualize where everything went.

To save on costs, simply clearing the area to make it visually appealing should suffice.