What would be the benefit or downside to each.Also, would anyone recommend using a realtor for my first buy?

For our family that is our biggest expense each month.

What are the downsides of investing in these properties in B or C class neighborhoods?  

@Catherine AngleI'd say my biggest frustration is either being lied to by tenants/contractors/potential tenants..You clearly state on the application you don't have an eviction, you tell me directly no evictions, but the court system says you have one?!    

Availability of contractors and their pricing are my biggest concerns.

If you uncover that answer, it may shed some light on the investment (maybe it's good info and it satisfies my skeptical approach)I have found the biggest three seller motivations (with landlords) are:1) Tenants are subpar and current owner is tired of managing (in this, you're inheriting headaches, eviction, and much higher repair costs than you expect). 2)  An estate took over and just wants to get it gone (in which case there is probably a back balance owed that needs to be flushed out along with a general lack of property knowledge). 3)  My personal favorite: the Owner bought via tax sale deed (and therefore does not want to be a landlord, just wants his investment + reasonable return).If everything checks out, it sounds like a great deal bud.  

You must research the benefits and potential downsides. 

The biggest issue is having enough money in reserves, before doing all the improvements and dealing with vacancies in the winter (not good in NE Ohio by the way)  I would NOT want any vacancies between November and March or April in NE Ohio. 

That's the biggest concern I had with it.

The biggest issue (personal opinion) was FOMO.