@Travis GuttingAssuming you are trying to keep things low-budget, here are some options:Driving for Dollars – Look for distressed properties and contact owners directly.

Preferably low or no money down as best seller would be one only interested in the monthly incomeI then sell said first property and take that cash to buy the investment I am really wanting and I get the terms I want.only thing I don’t know about yet is, how to dodge the tax on the sale of the initial property?

In the one house that I still have some existing, it's only on an overhead light circuit with no insulation around it, and I minimize the load on the circuit by using only low voltage LED lights. 

Are the units vintage quality with in-place rents $500/mo below current market?  

Weigh the long-term benefits of the low mortgage rate you have versus selling and getting $500k from a sale exempt from capital gains tax.

Across the board, the worse the neighborhood, the better the cash flow, the better the neighborhood, the trade off for tenants base, better schools, low crime, etc etc.

Prices remain relatively low, but appreciation may be slower.Monroe: A mix of cash flow and appreciation potential, Monroe has become a popular choice for investors, especially in areas where new developments are popping up.Appreciation-Focused NeighborhoodsBallantyne: A well-established area with high demand, Ballantyne offers excellent long-term appreciation potential, though cash flow opportunities may be limited.South End: A booming urban hub with a vibrant retail and restaurant scene.

Internet capabilities are low, and no one wants to live there.

Contractors, unless you have a working relationship with them, normally do not want you bouncing ideas off them.Understand what their hourly rate is, have a discussion with them that you are okay with paying them an hourly rate if they walk the property with you and provide you a scope of work along with an explanation of what you can/can't get away with in regards to improvements.ask them if you go with them, if they can credit you the amount that you paid.Once you develop a working relationship with a few contractors, you can bounce ideas off them and expect quality responses.I do not invest in New York.Best of luck. 

If you think that the forums and the books have the same information and the same quality, do you read books at all?