All in all, I'd say use cameras, but do it wisely, make sure tenants and guests know to smile, but I would not try to instill a greater sense of security, keeping them responsible for any assumptions. 

However, at the same time my Mom instilled a love of real estate in me.

So we may walk away with 400 K or 500k how do we invest in rental property in still meet the requirement of buying equal or greater value?

One important question I have not seen asked, or maybe it was and I missed it: Is the investment you are thinking of local to you or far away.If it is local, then roll your sleeves up and jump in. Still

After assessing our options, I started investing in rental properties while in still in Haiti.  

A good alternative would be sending out monthly newsletters with information on the property.The only thing this does not accomplish is instilling the sense of community.  

Hopefully this helps to instill a minimalist mentality, where they see that spent money is gone, things do not provide much value to your life, and others that make decisions opposite of how you were taught do not have the opportunities that you will have, mainly due to those decisions.Also, to understand the demand side of the equation, whereby others are willing to rent or buy your space to suit their needs.

You have to know your market in whatever area you plan on wholesaling in. Still

They said my mortgage PITI would go down about $100/mo based on refi as an investment property (in case something else pops up that I want to buy) and the approx $1200 closing costs would be rolled in, still saving $100/mo PITI.What is this all about?

Use that discipline and focus that has been instilled in you and you will succeed.