Yes you must look at the disease susceptibility if you are selecting for a renovation. Even if you are just overseeding you should put in something that will have a future for you.

I'll never know what variety of St Augustine I had in San Antonio when I arrived. That grass got whatever disease it got every spring. It would completely wipe out the surface leaving new grass as the only green there was. Once I discovered that corn meal worked against the disease, I really didn't care anymore. Then one year while I was out of town working extended periods most of the back yard died. Common bermuda filled in, so I needed to get St Aug back in there. I put in one flat of Floratam St Aug and waited patiently. When the Floratam filled in I couldn't believe it was the same grass. This area had gone from fairly heavy shade to half day of full sun due to a downdraft in a thunderstorm taking out the west side of a tree. Not only does Floratam become as dense as cabbage in full sun, it seemed to outgrow the disease. I noticed the disease spots occasionally and decided to just watch. The spots spread very slowly while the grass grew like it was on steroids (compared to the original grass). Essentially Floratam lived with the disease. It was not as good looking with the yellow blades and brown spots, but most of it was green. The grass at the new house seems to be Floratam inasmuch as it gets that same density. It is steadily marching through the bermuda and weeds taking over, so I'm happy with it. The grass has not been challenged with disease yet. I have applied corn meal for a tree disease that hits our area, so the grass should benefit from that.

Damn the torpedoes...

Keep your head down and your chin up. :/

Check out Raptor III.

Does anybody in your neighborhood have a nice lawn? Maybe you can find out what grass they have and use that.