Usually in the beginning stage I get a visual through pictures and once we are in the under contract stage, I use my due diligence period to go out to inspect the properties.

I personally have opted more for the investing out of state instead of house hacking here but I do understand the appeal of househacking and the more difficult task of assembling a team out of state.  

You seek out deals though whatever means appeal to you (snipe signs, cold calling, buying a list of non-owner occupied homes looking for the ones that want to sell, driving around looking for properties, working with attorneys, calling people that are going into foreclosure,  or working other wholesalers to learn the trade, etc).They key is that you have to find deals that have a lot of 'meat on the bones' where there will be sufficient equity in the deal to cut you in, plus your investor says, 'Wow, thats a great deal."  

They lack however the curb appeal of a 1920's duplex.

This will help me visualize numbers and the process of how the Refi Mortgage covers up the HML.Thanks in advance, this community is full of knowledge and experience.

Make sure you put a sign telling them, they are being recorded visually and vocally.b.

This is intended to be a long term rental but I'm obviously concerned about the appraisal value for when I refinance the property and for tenant appeal.

I mean just by the age of the prop, we can talk about possible foundation, structural (cracks), mold what not but again, opinion & even visual inspection won't do it.

Now, this is going to sound really dumb, but other than any obvious visual issues, how/when would I find out about what it needs structurally?

The basement layout wouldn’t be livable anyway so I’m thinking leave the dirt floor but make it a bit more...appealing...somehow.