I’ll take any help I can get UCO.
My post wasn’t that great at expressing any of the multiple points I was shooting for and looks like it is open to drawing many conclusions that I would rather not inspire.

Just like people got too excited with the granite and appliances combined with easy money and paid more than what the property was worth the reverse effect can happen with hard to get money today and beat up or not so stylish properties. More “worth” can be derived for less money especially with lowball offers and an eye for “worth” that is not apparent to everyone. A willingness to sweat is a big help. Enterprise and somebody elses labor can do the trick too.Having the guts to not care what anyone thinks about the purchase is a must. This is also a good way to avoid being upside down on a house.
I did especially not mean to insinuate that buying the “dogs” is about not being able to afford a turnkey, though it could be. Nothing wrong with getting into a location/neighborhood by buying the worst house there.