The primary benefit surrounds sheltering a portion of ordinary income from the self-employment taxes.  

Also in this town almost all the properties were built in the early 1900's so its nothing out of the ordinary.

Here's what our rental agreement has to say about repairs:REPAIRS.Tenant agrees to notify Landlord of needed repairs to premises in a timely manner by telephone and/or in writing.Tenant agrees not to repair their dwelling or anything belonging to Landlord without prior written consent of Landlord.Landlord retains the right to determine how and when the repair will be done, in accordance with federal, state, and local law and codes.If the need for repair is not due to damage caused by Tenant and/or their guests, Landlord agrees to pay for the repair.If the need for repair is a result of damage done by Tenant and/or their guests, and not that of ordinary wear and tear, Tenant agrees to pay for the repair.Landlord may decide to remove or replace an item, instead of repair.

Assuming you hold your rental property in your own name (not as a limited partner or as the beneficiary of a trust), AND, you actively participate in the rental activity, then you are allowed to offset your other ordinary income by up to $25K in net passive losses from your residential rental activity.  

First, I'm not an accountant, so take this for what's it's worth...If you plan to flip these houses, the IRS will consider these to be dealer transactions (not investments), and you will be subject to ordinary income taxes, not capital gains.

Interest income typically is taxed as ordinary income.

My goal right now is to get a quick return/large cash infusion (I know I have to pay tax on ordinary income for a flip or capital gains tax after a year).

They get no tax benefits aside from the same benefits they'd get if they were visiting (eg being allowed to drive around and be protected from violence and crime.. )  Unfortunately I don't have the persuasive skills to make anyone consider the more nuanced reality of this situation and to see them as ordinary people (who in turn can be completely ordinary tenants), I am just writing this to note that not every hardened old landlord thinks this way, and I think its shameful and sad.   

Quote from @Cole Britting: Thank you for the response @Damon Bodine!

This is out of the ordinary- I am building duplexes out of shipping containers.