There are some key observations that could work in my favor, or could be red flags that I'm too naive to avoid. 

the tax cert sales I went to in the deep south .. 10,000 certs were being sold in 2 days// I could see the pro's in the back of the room with their lap tops etc.but I guess the on line over the counter stuff is what your talking about.

However; I'm relocating back to Redding where I own property, have family, and it was hit extremely hard by the fire with over 1000 homes destroyed and others damaged.

I think the rest might just be deep deep cleaning.

This stuff goes real deep.

Ivanka Trump tells a story about her father, in the middle of one of his periodic crashes and in deep debt, pointing to a homeless guy on the streets of NY and telling her that the homeless guy was richer than he was.

However because of all the trouble getting it rented (paperwork, red tape & approvals).

@Don Konipol has given you a great background/info.You need to pick a niche and dig a deep moat around your specialty.

Maybe redo the floor or first try deep cleaning it/the grout.

I don't know many investors in CA or NY or any deep blue areas.