Also the landscaping on the outside just leads to problems, IE-ground sloping back toward basement,missing downspouts, etc.  

I looked on google maps it looks like the building might need painting and maybe some new landscaping.

Unfortunately, with the rental landscape here in Seattle, WA area (it's scary aggressive and expensive), it's difficult to locate a place that will be available a month from now, much less 2-3 months (even if you pay a healthy deposit).Does anyone have any tactics they are willing to share to help alleviate my concerns of possibly having to live out of my car?

I was checking demographic information on realtor.com, clrsearch.com, and city-data.com. 

Louis Has "Bad Reputation"Business Insider analyzed demographic information from suburbs nationwide for a list of the 50 best suburbs in America.

Or do you suggest a formal market study / demographics / traffic count? 

  - landscaper to come out and trim/cut/edge and cleanup $80 So - if a this unit was with a property manager, I could reasonably expect to pay them around $2500 to manage this property for me over the last 12 months, turn the unit around and place a new tenant. 

There are way to many investors out there with big money, that I cannot hope to compete with, that would scoop this in a heart beat, even though they do not understand the demographics.

@Peter Bussey Welcome to the site.Having done copious amounts of demographic and socioeconomic research (it's sort of my thing) I'm interested to learn what parts of town you are currently investing in?

**************************************************************************************************************Guideline #1:  New cars in driveways in neighborhoodGuideline #2:  Well maintained Lawn/landscape in neighborhoodGuideline #3:  New roofs in neighborhood