My question is, is it worth rehabbing to get it up to code to attract handicapped buyers?

Beyond the first few properties, I would like to invest more aggressively in larger properties and alternative financing.I have been researching real estate for the past 2 years and feel like it is finally time to put my plans into action.

This house is on a full unfinished basement that I knew would be attractive to families who were moving to the area and needed ample storage.

You will attract more tenants and more rent by providing laundry hookups or machines, especially in a single family. 

My alternative strategy would be to buy and hold a property in an up and coming city/neighborhood and live on the property for a few years. 

It reall really depends on the where, neighborhoods there alternate between b- (at best) to d- street by street. i do think long term the area will stabilize and improve, especially with all the flipped homes there and on both sides of Maryland Parkway, but theres still alot of room for improvement.

Does anyone have experience with “alternative financing” in Costa Rica?

The alternative (waiting for a downturn) could leave you on the sidelines indefinitely.

If it’s a low end property in a poor neighborhood with lower end rents, then yes, you’re going to attract lower quality tenants, potentially high turnover, and it’s not worth it.

So rather than having to find 1031 potentials you find the area and sector that is most attractive to you and then find the acquisition potentials in that sector and location that work best for you.