Most important thing you should look at with a rental property is your comfort level with the neighborhood & associated tenant base.

I also know a guy in Richmond that has a business called Fixer Upper Coach RVA.

I will be buying a fixer upper rental property to hold for a long time.

But a fixer upper?

I also would note that the renovations completed upgrade the home: Recessed lighting, granite counter tops, new cabinets, new toilets for the entire house, new flooring for the whole main level. 

If you are planning on self-managing the properties, then I suggest starting with the 1-2 properties that are the "middle" level SFH or a small multi-family (duplex / triplex).

Consult with a professional who understands tax implications for foreign investors; In terms of US, few things to consider: since you will generate an active income - which is ordinary, you will need to choose entity that will save you taxes; consider how much income you expect to generate in a first few years; the state; for example with CA you have additional entity level taxes - for example tax on LLC starts at 800 per year even if you have no activity.

I believe Zillow has a county level Home Price Index.

Kind of a mindset question, and maybe it all depends on your comfort level.

. - I personally feel that wholesalers in my area are marking up the properties beyond a profitable level for the flipper - i have deals emailed to me all the time but they are all $25-$40 grand too high for the numbers to work - YET THEY SELL SAME DAY!