And your friend's house "on this side of town" might also be too far removed.Find out what the rents are for properties on the same block as your house, or on the first one or two side streets, or the street behind your back yard. 

And they weld authority like their a king and the other residents won't grow a pair and stand up.The last board I delt with had a guy that would send you a "friendly" letter and a picture of you trash cans if they were on the street for more that 2 hours after the truck went by. 

These buildings are block structure, each with their own bathroom, no furnished heat or AC but some tenants have added it themselves.

I own a Duplex in a smaller town , and there are some wooded and vacant lots near by maybe one block over.

Don't let the road blocks we all come to slow or stop you.

That forest is full of mine fields, snakes, predators and fallen trees blocking paths.

Does anyone have any letters that get a good response rate?

Right now I'm hitting a mental road block on how I can make this work.

I read books such as Words That Sell, Phrases That Sell, The Ultimate Sales Letter, The Letter Book, Scientific Advertising, Confessions of an Advertising Man.

Take that address and send them a letter saying you want to purchase that property.