Be sure to join us at the Houston meetup next week:Houston Meetup - Wednesday, September 10, 2014 (at 3rd Floor bar in Midtown)

.$100k+  There are triple deckers with retail on the first floor and two apartments above and 3,000 sf retail buildings. 

When full legalization hits the state, and marijuana prices drop, there is the potential for these properties in southern and eastern Humboldt to drop through the floor.

Floor and Decor in our area has started carrying these.

But if you don't plan to have someone checking on the property regularly then you should have a "trusted" contractor meet the locksmith to screw 1st floor windows shut and lock them, and secure back door with wood stud(s).

Just ran across a way to update your flooring and stay way down on budget called paper flooring.

I take photos of the entire place - floors, ceilings, woodwork, etc., put all the pics on a CD & give a copy to the tenant at move-in.

Are floors reasonably level?

In the pictures in the advert you will see almost the whole house is floored with Allure vinyl plank flooring.  

I would say it depends on just how "move-in ready" you are expecting.If someone is sitting on a property that is in relatively good repair overall, with the exception of some paint, flooring, and minor kitchen updates (countertop replacement/cabinet refinishing) for example, as a result of inheritance or a property that may be more of an afterthought for whatever reason, then perhaps through direct mail you may uncover a handful of decent leads/deals whose owners haven't necessarily yet put the wheels in motion to get rid of a property that they may consider selling once they are given a slight nudge.