It may be a hospital nearby.

If you are going to stay in single family rental units you have to maintain your needed statistics of demand, location, getting good deals, growth area, schools, nearby amenities, the retail development nearby, and taking baby steps but acquire several of them quickly so one vacancy will not be so painful when it happens, and it will.Good luck to you!

I couldn't morally do it if there were kids/families nearby. 

I usually walk the neighborhood every time I visit, if I have time.Currently, I'm working on a house I bought in a nearby town and have gotten to know the neighbor across the street very well. 

After some questioning and explanations, I was told that the offer was reduced to 287K based on nearby listings.

They said the replacement ran about 60K.There is no natural gas available nearby to tap into.

There many things you need to know ideally before you make an offer.Your first thing and not necessarily be the most important is the first impression when you drive like the building(s) and the landscaping, is it's location good for your tenants, the mix of the floor plans, can you add any value, Make sure when looking at the income and expense records that you looking at actual financial statements.Are there any nearby schools and are there there any nearby amenities and what type of the parking is available to the tenants, how any nearby apartment locations and what, if any, are they doing to attract prospects, look at all units and do not let the current owner trying to get you  not to do that, how does the current rental rates being collected near the market average, does it need any capital repairs or rehab right away,does it have a positive cash flow now, is it being properly managed by property management, and is there any nearby retail development and do its match your target market.

Is it priced lower than other nearby properties?  

Ther also is a nearby duplex where both units are studio apartments.

Just improve as what is average for that area.Are there any nearby amenities and what the nearby retail development attract, if any.Are there any needed repairs, renovation, or capital expenses?