The barrier is not technological capability - there are 10s of thousands such buildings in Europe {search on Passivhaus} - but lack of will (economic and political).Equally important, and potentially more difficult problem to solve, is retrofitting of existing building stock to achieve significant energy use reductions in a cost effective manner.  

That being said, I've seen successful renovations first hand, so why not do it myself!

After a completed first purchase and property management have proven themselves, then I consider it a lot less important to return to the area for a first hand look at additional properties.

I'm not an expert but do have firsthand knowledge about asset protection, insurance agents, contractors, etc.

My goals are lofty to say the least but I believe that it is possible to achieve them even thought my parents and everyone else says they are just not going to happen. 

@Bill Gulley  Engelo is not a Guru he is just a hard working young man who is building a turn key business and PM business.. along with he just launched a real Estate brokerage in Ohio called list and sell which is a discount brokerage for high achieving agents in that market place..  

I would guess they are buying non and sub-performing loans to achieve the higher yields.  

I can tell you first-hand experience, try to see if there is anything that you can do to have the tenant move out with mutual terms.

Time is better spent hosting lunch-and-learns, being a junior achievement volunteer, putting on financial literacy courses at your church, starting web sites like BP, hosting podcasts to help others get ahead...practical stuff (where you may be able to help 1 out of 10 or 20 who are willing to fix the habits that keep them in the middle class).Class warfare creates more divide than it provides help or solutions.

It all depends how involved you want to get in the project and what level of sound proofing you are trying to achieve.