The rental market is really good there especially in the eastern section by Loyola.  

You will need to arrange finance in your home country.

(I include this only because I wonder if its relevant) Ive been listening to BP podcasts and wonder , should I only look at homes in foreclosure (what is an REO) what is considered a good deal on a home Im about to purchase (do I look at the sales of the other homes on the block) Should I stick with neighborhoods only or do  i go after a bargain thats sits alone out in the country(Is there a large market for those that want to live away from traditional neighborhood) What about these auctions at the courthouse...buying the house with a cashiers check?

In my part of the country it was generally persons of color and Wells F or BofA, in your part of the country it was generally persons often termed "trailer trash" and XYZ Home Mortgage or ABC House Funding.So.... 

This Hattie lady is more dangerous to a new investor than the shadiest wholesaler in this country.

for the rentals we use Kitchen Kompact from HD. they are distrubuted by Williams, which has a warehouse about 1 hrs away. they come in a few colors, i just get the oak because that can take a beating and not even show it.not sure if other areas of the country have this, but it's just under $100 per box. i love them.

I put all new front porch 16x60s in the unoccupied spaces after giving the old homes to a transporter who also sold them in hillbilly country to cover his costs and profits.

You can also do it more easily in other areas of the country, since there is a knowledgeable local that is on top of it (which is difficult to do if you purchase it yourself, and intend to manage it yourself).There are about 100 different sites, but I would recommend focusing on the most mature/fully featured ones that match your investment criteria.

That's huge ROI potential.Or you can own the business and see an even higher return.You have one of the best private resources in the country right in your backyard - Gene Guarino is the premier educator on residential assisted living through his RAL Academy.

They likely will not be good quality but they exist all over the country.