It allows you to take advantage of a low down payment loan.

Margins seem low and the risk seems high.

Foreclosures ar near all time lows.

We look for good school systems, low crime and desirable neighborhoods.

Several have mentioned utilizing low down payment second home loans for qualifying.

There are quite a number of things that can make utilizing an FHA loan more difficult such as more barriers during appraisal, appearance of low qualification/little cash, typically longer closing period, likely higher interest rate, and PMI cannot be dropped without a refinance if 3.5% down.That said, just chain 5% down conventional loans, and make sure your duplexes pay for themselves.  

But, if steady long term cashflow is a goal, with no management, one can always sell farm land on a low down private contract.

Investors come to our market because of the low barrier to entry and that we have a solid tenant base that provides solid cash flow to out-of-state investors like yourself.

Some of the materials we choose and asked him to pick up (such as flooring) he replaced with low quality materials, I assume to keep more of our money for himself. 

The bigger concern I would have is low pressure due to blocked pipes, especially to the bathrooms.