They had extra challenges of language, culture, and education which they overcame. 

All of the above.Grind culture dude, run a tight budget & cast a wide net.

You do have to be aware of cultural differences and other challenges:- In other countries, workers ALWAYS take their birthdays off- You should inquire about & respect local holidays- Timezone differences of more than 2-4 hours, can lead to mysterious "sick" days.

IREM President Libby Ekre, CPM, shares five essential things to look for:Licenses & Certifications – Ensure the firm has certifications like CPM or ARM, guaranteeing adherence to industry standards.Regional Experience – Local market knowledge is crucial, especially for properties in smaller cities.Property Type Expertise – Match the company’s strengths with your specific property type for better management.Company Culture – Look for a firm that values customer service and team management.

Hello,  I ran across a conversion strategy where an annuity company would add a significant cash bonus to my IRA conversion account to cover the conversion taxes so my conversion is tax free to me (well some what).  

After locking up the contract, I ran into my first problem: I didn’t have enough cash buyers.

Detroit in particular has been a haven for out of state money and there is a sub culture that has developed of "contractors" advertising to provide this type of service while at best underperforming and at worst completely stealing from you. 

At one point I ran into a member of the Jake and Gino community at a local meetup and learned that he was able to purchase an apartment out of state without using only his money so I inquired about his experience and opened a line of communication.

Quote from @John Federic: I ran some numbers for you using the Cashflow Analyzer Pro from AssetAFC.com (see the attached picture).From my perspective, this deal still looks acceptable, even though it won’t cash flow in the first year, assuming a 5% vacancy and 5% for repairs.

I ran a list, skip traced, and connected with the homeowner to educate them on typical paths they could take and work through if any of them were viable in their situation.