When I checked that location on one of the crime sites I discovered that robberies and assaults occur frequently at the strip mall and that the situation appears to have been the same for the past few years.

Are there frequent problems because of them?

A frequent problem I've seen with Section 8 tenants is they move their family and friends in with them, although the lease generally forbids that, and the owner winds up with a lot of unanticipated maintenance costs. 

He does it quite frequently. 

I guess I had my maple leaf hat onOn residential mortgages up here, you are allowed to select your payment frequency (Monthly, semi-monthly, bi-weekly, weekly) at the time the loan is drawn - but may not be allowed to change it afterwards.The payment order is the same: accrued interest, then principal, but with more frequent reductions in principal, there will be less interest paid overall.Since there is no tax deduction for mortgage interest incurred on an owner occupied residence in Canada, there has traditionally been a great incentive to increase payment frequency and pay down more quickly.

I also hear that they are a lot of work and the banks frequently don't approve the offer price after working on them for months.

On top of that, Minneapolis is undergoing a major surge in rental growth and the city is starting to crack down on out of town (absentee) landlords by threatening more frequent inspections.http://www.startribune.com/local/minneapolis/260623841.htmlMinneapolis is a great place for rental income right now with avg rent at $1000/month but if you're thinking around the $130k range for duplexes any where near the U and are under the impression that they are at or above avg or livable condition I fear you're being a bit mislead.

I move frequently, so I buy a home every time I move and rent it when I leave.  

It's better than Compton, and I think it is improving, but lots of section 8, lots of late payment renters, lots of people on "disability" and you frequently smell the odor of very strong marijuana in the air.I bought here because It was affordable (for CA), I don't feel unsafe in the area, and I really think the area will improve because it is in a very advantageous location geographically.It isn't hard at all to get renters, but their quality is generally low (credit issues, potential section 8). 

I am frequently in Lee and Collier as I have businesses in Naples, Fort Myers and Cape Coral-what a beautiful area of Florida!