The place I have is over 30 years old and a mansion ("mansion" in Japan means an apartment, not "mansion" like a huge house). 

Same with a refrigerator replacement, HVAC system repairs, etc.So, I am back to echoing Jaycee: first, don't be discouraged because someone else says to avoid a part of town.  

I'm a part of local real estate investors meeting and I have some good realtor contacts.

I don't know anything about commercial or apartments so I can't really help you there.

I have a property in Bulverde, Texas that is five bedroom 2 1/2 bath plus a one bedroom apartment studio with a full bath connected.

On the upside, they have a new investor portal which where you can view documents (like monthly reports/inspections by Aloha) and data on construction progress and returns.  

My sister and I founded Abideaway to help short term rental hosts increase their profitability and guest experience through interior design, mural painting, and digital branding—in essence, a suite of creative services to set them apart :) We work nationwide and would be happy to help wherever you land.Would love to chat with you to learn more about your direction and see how we can assist.

Your best route might be to buy a 2 to 4 unit property that you can live in and rent out the additional apartments.

The idea is to convert a multi-family building into condos; but not in the traditional sense where you separate pre-existing apartments into their own condos; but in a way where you combine the common areas of all of the apartments in that whole building, and turn the individual rooms within those apartments into condos themselves; thus transforming the hallways, kitchens, bathrooms, living rooms, dining rooms, porches, balconies into common areas of the condos. 

We have a coin op laundry in the basement of our apartment building.