People think they can use the internet to skip this step. 

Now I see people accept the $1000 and turn around and "rent the garage" for $200 per month or "rent the appliances" which is legal so long as the garage are appliances are not included amenities on the HAP contract. 

After finding properties that look distressed does people write offers before seeing the inside of the property?

Many people go there in (large) groups, which most short-term rentals can't accommodate.

I’ve heard people speak poorly of ND, but Minot is a little different.

In both three people end up contributing all of the equity and one manages the project.

I have a goal to post at least once a week to get to know you guys as well as make sure I'm consistently learning from people who are smarter than me :)When I started reading and learning about REI I felt pretty strongly about hiring a PM.

I'm buying another duplex there next month.If you are in Detroit you have what so many people here would kill for... a cheap market in your backyard that's makes it easy to learn. 

Contact the listing platforms and see if you can get the names of people who have already booked...along with cleaners.

Sure, most people want to leverage deducting passive losses... but one day you might have net profit that could be whacked with a 3.8% NIIT.