Still can find some solid SFR's in Mount Healthy, but the school district is not good either.

You want good schools, population stability, strong employment/average income, etc.Finally, narrow it down to the type of property you are looking to invest in: single-family, multi-family, short-term rentals, etc.I recommend "Long-Distance Real Estate Investing" by David Greene for more details on how to evaluate a market.

I have a FT career and will be going to grad school this Spring.  

See this article for example of the kinds of construction techniques available to do it: https://extension.usu.edu/pests/schoolipm/files/school-ipm-documents/ipm-design-and-construction/IPM_Design_Construction_1.pdf I have some personal experience in making a normal home pest resistant because I once bought a house that had roaches and I didn’t want to kill them and struggled with making the home pest resistant by sealing entry points from the inside.

More insight to your daughters work location, importance of schools, transit options, or level of entertainment within walking distance will play a part in what anyone on here can recommend.  

In a good area, good schools, it all checks out.

I recently visited my best friend from high school in Chicago.

It's across from an elementary school and is down the street from new townhomes being built that were selling in the $300's.

Any knowledge you can share about what you have learned through the school of hard knocks, etc. will be much appreciated. 

I hate to say this but it goes back to the old school way of getting 3 bids; it doesn't have to be a time consuming process but it does make a big difference.