I spend my time and energy to keep it in good working order for my tenants.

A fence and maybe a flood light? 

We ended up getting a hardmoney loan on a duplex in Minneapolis (while we lived in San Diego) in a up and coming neighborhood, we lightly rehabbed when we went out there and left as soon as it got too cold for my blood.  

If not, do a light, cosmetic rehab and place a new tenant at market rates.

(total about $3000) unit 2 needs some light kitchen reno - stove and cabinets redone, flooring.

Good luck and hope that she didn’t sell your light fixtures and appliances.

Joining the military is a fine thing (I've done it) but not something to be done lightly... and with FHA or conventional mortgages available the VA loan isn't really that great anyway.

That coating, which doesn’t cost much more, protects the interiors material from sun damage, lowers the amount of heat from the sun on the inside, and allows visible light to still shine through.

Investing in general outside of norm requires more guts and energy and I don't think people are wired into thinking from that perspective.

That makes that area so much less attractive to do anyting with new constrtuction, and in light of the high tax you mentioned, makes it pretty much impossible.