I usually do a combination of new/used.If being there yourself isn't an option, I think finding someone somewhat local or within a few hours driving distance (if they have capability to receive/transport items) is the most economical, but it will still cost you.

Examples: Large 2 bedrooms house, convert to 3 bedrooms and/or add a 2nd bath without an addition, house with unpermitted conversion (enclosed patio/porch, etc), legally permit it to add sf for little cost.fix/flip or build - Find distressed properties under market value (they are still out there, even now), demo and rebuild to modern standards, then sell and tfr that money to a cashflow property and put more money down with your new found profit.

Is it fully enclosed, so this shouldn't be the case? 

I built a wall (12' wide 8'8" high) with a recessed and arched alcove for the door to enclose an unused open dining room into an additional "bedroom".

If you transported them to a state where the cost of living was very affordable they would have the same issues.

Repair of Vehicles: The Resident shall not repair vehicles on the premises (unless vehicle is kept in an enclosed garage) if such repairs shall take longer than a single day.

It wasn't just a little rehab - put in CHA unit and all ductwork (it had window units), tore out the 4th bedroom to make it back into a carport (more desirable than extra bedroom), ripped off the walls on the enclosed porch to make it a screened porch again, all new energy star custom windows and doors (got them on a holiday sale at Home Depot so 15 % off and had a 10% off Lowe's coupon that I had HD honor and got 18 months 0% interest) and painted inside and out (Pro Plan paint at HD - another discount and same 18 months financing), new appliances (scratch and dent with 10% off and 18 mo. financing at Lowes), and new countertop and ceiling fans.  

Two months later and after $7,000 spent on ripping out carpet, refinish the floors, adding a sliding glass door in the bathroom, enclosing the third bedroom, and relocating the new electric water heater, the home was ready to rent.Lesson #3: Historical rents do not imply market rents.

Marie (speculation) as it is a boarder city and could be utilized as a central economic hub for transportation, tourism, ect.

Hello my name is Michael Nash, my background is in transportation, I have no experience in real estate investing however, I bought a home in 1995 (lost it in divorce).