Going with a newer home may cost a little more but it most likely will be more energy efficient, have newer items, and have more space (hopefully allowing you to command more rent money depending on where you end up buying).  

I'd appreciate some comments as to whether this property, and the quality of the rehab from the photos, is one that can command the $1,250/mo and whether or not it can sustain this in the long run.https://drive.google.com/folderview?

You might call the We Buy Houses people from bandit signs and see if you can buy their deals, or to flip deals to them.I also learned that I like military tenants because I can go through chain of command for late rents, if needed.

Second, you have home-field advantage when it comes to knowing what rents you can command in what areas, and the expenses you will incur.

Most of the deals that I'm underwriting for clients or for myself struggle to qualify for DSCR loans or pencil out because there's a misalignment between what a property can command in rent and what the monthly debt service will be.

Today they are commanding 300 K . 

Are you buying the cheapest house out there and  the rent the house can command is also the cheapest?

I just purchased my live-in rental that I plan to fully rent out in the eagle-mt/marine creek area and it's not only great for commanding fairly high rents, but the good schools drive a lot of good quality renters to the area as well (compared to other schools in the area).

Once remodeled, they could command a higher rental rate thus supporting a handsome sale price to an investor.

He uses all of the cash now in the exchange account to purchase his replacement property  and all is good.But he's got to have access to cash from somewhere to buy the note out - either that or he's got to sell the note on the open market which will command a heavy discount.