I like the Wack a Mole analogy.. if I think back on my career in this game that started in 75.there were all distinct and different events that perpetuated a slow down or price compression in real estate75.... coming out of VN war  soft economy83 - 85  sky high mortgage and interest rates  ( SL crisis  but a lot of money was made picking up those deals)89 to 92  in bay area  Earth quake and war.. prices in SF and bay area compressed 20 to 50%  ( we have short memories.) but that was also pre high tech.2000  dot com bomb  short lived 2001  Bin laden short lived07 to 2011  global credit crisis worse i have ever seen or I think any one basically living ever saw.. worse than great depression in many areas...

Let's just agree your target market segment is real slim on these.Now that is the case with distressed homes, but there are also 'motivated sellers' who just do not have time wait 45 days for your buyers with VA/FHA loans to close. 

I do agree though, there are a number of uncertainties with the Foxconn plans and development being completed so there is a distinct element of speculation. 

That will determine which type of property, how to manage it, and how to get the best rate of return from it.Research your local market to see what the best real estate segment is and deciding if you are willing or able to manage that type of property.  

This may or not be the case with your agent but most work in the SFH first time home buyer segment.

The issue is that you are dealing with two distinctly different products each having a different driving factor.SFHs are not specific built rental income properties, therefor the price is driven not by rent but rather by the whim of home buyers.

You'll need to identify the market, segment and product type you want to compete in, get to know the agents, the comps, inventory, etc. before you jump in making offers, offers you may regret later.

Sure enough, there was a distinct water line on all of the walls of the basement and everything else down there, which we now know is why the boiler and water heaters had rust on them. 

Another indicator, this time from the commercial segment, is that the vacancy rate for offices in Kiev is currently 3% (three percent).

One would need to target that small segment with that specific need (foreclosures and probate sales as you mentioned) If those are the kind of deals you're looking for.