If its the trendy hot areas, or general "path of progress" and your able to make a trip and go drive around to find that "path" its really the best way. 

Wondering if anyone has experience doing this, and if so, what do the deal terms look like for investors?

This info might be helpful and its free. 

If you have experience renting to FEMA can you help us know what to expect on questions like this?

This is where you will get the correct estimates. 

This sounds like a great strategy to me since this would substantially lower my down payment in a deal.

You have to look at things from the management perspective to understand this. 

this is very common.. 

I dont have any experience in this market but have looked into it a little bit, I know that you can get the houses pretty cheap there but my concern was with the long term appreciation - I dont believe it is a highly desirable place to live and so there wont be much appreciation -however that is just my opinion and I really didnt look into it much,  I think it would be a cool place to live as I go to Monterrey all the time, but its hard to say. 

Calling - and then there's this option.