You can't hire your son to work on the property, but you can hire your nephew or brother. 

One option would be a virtual mailbox.

Anyone that can scope this area out virtually and tell me if buying a property for 20k is a bad deal even though it looks like it could sell for 55k after a bit of work.

Cash buyers and people not afraid of work(or hiring contractors) are the best deals, but not everyone can be a cash buyer...Hope some of this helps!

Just make sure to get additional references and check licenses etc. before you hire anybody.

We are planning the retrofit of a larger complex and I am contemplating providing WiFi coverage (with a separate (virtual) SSID per unit) throughout the buildings to cut down on the interference ... it would also allow a tenant to stay connected to their own network even if they were in the laundry.

I mean, I know it can be done....if there are people doing virtual wholesaling, and buying rentals while deployed, then I'm sure there's a way for this situation.  

I hired a guy to do my hardwood floors (referral from another investor) and he showed up everyday in his beat up little toyota SUV until the last day when he came to collect payment he showed up in his huge Hummer with his entire family.

Virtually everything he touched with regards to finish work, I've had to hire another contractor to come in and fix.  

I hired a second management company that I allowed to charge me "monthly maintenance" fees or at least it seemed that way.