can you invest locally instead?

I spoke to the local fire chief.

Next piece of advice is shop this deal around with someone through the forums or local real estate groups (google for your area). 

I would do what you are doing here on a bigger scale - social media, local markets she operates in Facebook groups, etc. 

I would call your local property appraiser office and ask about the criteria for appealing, because you may have to wait until next year when you receive the TRIM notice.

Not sure what your local law requires, you'll want to check on that.

A great way to get started is to go to local real estate investor meetups and meet other investors.

Rodrigues is an awesome LOCAL lender, who works a lot with foreigners.

Check your local/state law.

Selling a property that requires significant work can indeed be challenging, but there are several avenues you might consider exploring:Local Real Estate Agents: A local agent with experience in selling fixer-upper properties or historical homes in your area could provide valuable insights.