The mining and logging industry ranked first in job creation followed by construction; transportation, warehousing, and utilities; professional and business services; leisure and hospitality; and financial activities.All Texas metro areas except Beaumont-Port Arthur, Brownsville-Harlingen, Corpus Christi, and Victoria had more jobs.

The major work needed to make them habitatable is: enclose them by installing windows, frame up a bedroom in one unit, add flooring, kitchen and bath cabinetry, electrical & plumbing fixtures, basic appliances, and one unit would need private egress.   

I look to invest where there is infrastructure to support new job growth/opportunities (possibly private tech corps will grow in Indy) Next Big Challenge for Small Downtowns (7/2017) I don't see a lot of good transportation solutions (muni/light rail) & the roads are horrible, but I was happy to see bicycles and shared bikes (Pacers)/e-scooters(BIRD) in  downtown & Lyft/Uber and electric cars to get around but I am hoping Indy will attract more private tech businesses.I am wondering your thoughts about Indy's new criminal justice center and the growing trend of prisons system as a lucrative business; Is this considered a "path to progress" for local property investors or is the new CJC not welcome?

I don't know how gas prices are but Nyc and Seattle are a dollar a gallon higher than where I live at least, which means paint and transportation costs more.

In terms of transporting a home, is there any specifics we need to know?

There are plenty of people who have jobs that require them to travel often or have jobs that have long commutes via multiple modes of transportation and still have a place they call home when the traveling is done.

Everyone above has made great points.. look at it this way .you have a 425.00 rental what is the standard for putting a tenant in a rental  3X rent = gross income .. so tenant is qualified at 1200 a month .. to move in.. minus 425 leaves them 775.00 a month to live on less than 200 a week to pay for UTLS food transportation if any.. your simply getting in many instances the least stable folks in the US.. they have one little upset and they usually do what happens rent does not get paid.. there is a reason these properties trade at those values and rent at those numbers.. its simply not exponential in  a backwards fashion that 425.00 rents are great since they are so low if that makes any sense.like @Jason Hirko  says if you have 100 of them and have all in house management and turn over services you can make a run at it..

We also converted a small back porch to an enclosed space with added HVAC duct and made it into a heated and cooled laundry room for our tenants.

You definitely do want to be near public transportation that offers easy access to NYC as thats your best shot at getting tenants and with high paying NYC jobs.

Is there any way to enclose that area?