Yes its good @Byron Scott, this allows you to vet them yourself and change them if you want to upgrade the units or not happy with the tenants. 

And after a few years, build some equity and utilize the 1031k option to upgrade to the single or multi-family home.

Stay in a good a neighborhood and since you said you're handy in regards to repairs and upgrades, I'd buy something that needs some work.

this is tricky, it tends to be a case by broker-case basis, and only a handful of brokers control the bank-owned..yikes......i forgot if the agent can rep. the bank and you, there in NC, if you make offer..Just thinking out-loud and opinion, not telling you what to do, dont know your plan (hold, flip, or your funding):  ...get over there, with a property preservation buddy, assess the repair and upgrades, (unless its already pretty perfect or you feel the agent can give you some accurate idea)...ask agent what he/she can sell for in good condition, confirm.. then factor arv, repairs needed, make offer with 10 day due diiigence professional inspection......are you offering an almost full retail-market priced forclosure anyway, then are you going to hold it for cash flow? 

When you are sinking costs into a property make sure that you are not overspending on a house where the area will not support the upgrades.

Expense are quite low: $2000 year taxes, $600 insurance, $700 street lights, $3000 vacancy/lost rent, $1000 upgrading UTL & gravel/pavement per year = $7,300/year expenses.

Hopefully you have taken the time to upgrade your kitchen, and have given it a beautiful facelift!

I bought downtown 4 years ago and love my spot, but if I were to upgrade, buy again, etc...

Looks to only need some cosmetic upgrades.

That means they can (and will) condition project approval on upgrading public improvements in the right of way adjoining your property.