Franklin County has been tough as they suffered some down turns when their RE district had such low value collecting years of low taxes.

If you don’t approach this in a business like fashion you will be the one that suffers.

For now, what you might do, is just put in window units in the top floor units who are suffering, and just eat the cost until the next lease renewal.As soon as possible, though, I'd put them on separate meters and put in window units.  

I might be a newbie regarding real estate, but I certainly have plenty of experience of pulling the trigger where everyone around me would rather suffer being stuck in a life of poverty with no end in sight.

Make sure you dont suffer analysis by paralysis.Taking action and making offers is 95% of this businessDont overcomplicate this, buy low sell high.

Without title, the original seller has no options but to suffer eventual foreclosure or make payments on a house they no longer have title to.

You want to move up the 80/20 leverage curve from technician to investor/entrepreneur.In Bridgeport, Connecticut and many other markets the investment is about 10% of rents collected which frees you from taking resident phone calls, coordinating maintenance, leasing vacancies, accounting P&L's, conducting inspections and making property payments.Owners often times suffer from "death by 100 cuts" when having to handle all of these small items, missing opportunities to achieve bigger goals.Obviously this needs to be figured into your numbers before you purchase the property. 

Or suffer the consequences.

When their paycheck stops for a week/month, it impacts necessities like food, shelter, warmth, etc.My point is that with all the people suffering, those suffering mainly from reduced occupancy/rent from their investment property does not make my pity list.  

People who live like this always suffer severe consequence in due time.