They take debit cards & checks for a very minimal fee to me (its free to the tenant), but ... at the renter's expense they can pay with a credit card over the phone, pay with a credit card online OR even do something like Western Union.

This will be minimal effort on your part.

If I am only looking at A & B class neighborhoods, should I expect that properties with minimal repairs needed will usually hover around 2% or lower?

After I transferred to a broker that charged me a monthly desk fee, minimal transaction fees, and let me lower my commissions, I actually started getting decent listings as opposed to just working my butt off as a buyer agent.  

It allows you to delay answering any questions until further time and minimizes the discussion/debate as well as provides opportunity to think about all ramifications (I need to check with the owners or my partners- whatever wording you want). 

Hence wanting to build quality and for atmosphere, (light, bright, airy) for the long dark and grey winters.

Adding a bathroom to the main house and some other minimal repairs (painting, new countertops).

new shuttersnew door & storm doorcleaning the guttersadding a small concrete stepnew mailbox & lightLiving RoomIt’s hard to see from the photo, but we replaced the lighter-colored laminate flooring with a dark coffee-colored engineered hardwood.

Knowing very minimally of what I am talking about, I cant help but be drawn to a HUD home as a first investment.

I might cost to start up the IRA but the transfer fees are minimal.