They were secured against properties in my local area.

You want to trust the seller and not insult him, but you want to make sure they are all paying on time.Have you gone to local real estate investing meetups in your area?

@Allison Levinesorry to hear this is happening to you  i would: 1. hire your own attorney if you haven't already.2. see if you can find other local investors who have gone through the same thing.

The process to purchase is still a slow process with a local title company.

I hear the same thing at local meetups and on this site.  

Most of the population moved to the surrounding suburbs or other cities and abandoned the downtown area, causing it to become a center for poverty, drugs, homelessness, and crime.

@Sarah Minor I'm a local investor agent.

See if it leaks into their unit.Depending on your local laws, even if it leaks, you may not be responsible.

The best way to get started or increase that flow is to go to real estate investor meetups (@Leka Devatha has an amazing one in Seattle) and also answer questions in the local forums without ever asking or offering help in terms of your business.

I put 20% down through my local bank on the first mortgage.