How is the STR or MTR market in that city ? 

My market is Miami Florida.

To find good contractors, i've had decent luck with the NAHB website, https://www.nahb.org/nahb-community/nahb-directories I don't know that I would spend the money on a designer, not that they are not valuable and have their place, but with an investment it seems like there is a tried and true design that you'll see transcends markets.

Slap some paint and clean them up sell at slightly below market - or new kitchen, bath and flooring which will cost around 50k each and swing for the fences?

I'm looking to start/hire a call center for off-market real estate leads on a very large scale.

I have done the work to close on the home in a great market and my strategy is buy and hold.

I was just looking around on Zillow and saw this so I'm not sure how accurate this is because I'm not familiar with market language in TX.

If I need to undergo a colonoscopy to determine if a lender makes a 30 year loan to people with an 815 FICO at 85% LTV with an in place tenant and monthly income of $1400 with a market value of $125,000, or if you can't tell me any interest rate info until I submit my tax returns to you...

I almost made the mistake of paying a Philly guru who was going to teach me the ins and outs of buying section 8 homes and after reaching out to others on BP who invest in better market real estate, realized its incredibly risky.

Gastonia is a great sub market of Charlotte, and is still affordable.