You are right that messaging is important - I agree with you but caution you not to market to the WRONG PEOPLE just because there are a lot of them.Perhaps you mail your beach home message to only people in certain zips and at higher market values (upper 1/3 of market value) - and send the more traditional absentee message to houses that are more inland and in the lower 1/3 of market value.  

I know there is the "2 block issue" to be wary of, but many of these abandoned houses are only a few blocks north of recently flipped homes selling in the mid to upper 100k range.

This upper stratum moved to outlying neighborhoods, and further, to well-to-do suburbs such as Bloomfield Hills and Grosse Pointe.

Shed is buried and upper branches leaning on side of house / roofline. 

A 3BR/2BA 2,000 square foot home on an acre lot in this area is going to cost more than $100k unless you purchase a fixer-upper.

There are a few recommended reading lists you can find if you use the search in the upper right hand of this page.3. 

Complete Real-Estate Investing Guidebook (first read, general guide)Investing in Fixer Uppers - Jay Decima (creative, knowledgable)Care and Feeding of Tenants - Andy Kane (great on tenant info)Podcasts have still been my primary medium for education.

However, I have stumbled upon a fixer-upper and decided to take the risk, given the risk-reward ratio.  

@Tony Dragoo   I think that is a regional question and a market question.. if you in a non appreciating market and I would describe that as a market that moves 1 to 3% a year if your lucky compared to say SF Bay Area.. then I would not worry about owning .. but if you west coast  upper east coast DC  and other areas were you can get priced out of entry level I would buy first.  

My name is James and I'm from Upper Marlboro, Maryland.