I've bought numerous duplexes where I was able to raise the rent $100-$300 month per unit. 

The main floor has builder installed engineer hardwood and upstairs has carpet.The house has numerous issues since we moved in.

@Matthew LewisYour idea of getting a small/mid-size multi in a solid market is an excellent strategy.I have been in the Boise market for over 3 decades (mostly flips, some buy & hold and numerous jv).  

@Jeff Abramson - we're been asked for this feature before but I honestly do not believe in explaining your offer to the seller numerically. 

I get most of these lines of inquiry from this forum, and the trainees in our office.  

We’ve used Rich Bolen on numerous occasions.

They develop and sell properties as well as take on LLC Partners in the development of Assisted Living Properties mostly in Arizona where the laws and numerous factors are positive.

I would suggest owning a rental close to your domicile for numerous reasons.

there is no way to know, your scores look great, ,,get the collection off, DO NOT add any accounts until after you get the mortgage, when you open a new account your average age of accounts will go down farther,,but you need more open lines of credit.One thing you can do right before you get the mortgage, pay that one credit card off or down before the statement closing date,,most companies report balances on the date of the statement, so even if your paying it off every month, it could have a high balance reporting,,if your below 20% of available credit then it doesn't matter.Keep hard inquiries down, checking your own report won't hurt you, but "shopping" for rates can really hurt you because of numerous inquiries will bring down your score, more than you might realize (I've seen one inquiry drop my FICO by 10 point with TU and Experian

Being a foreigner myself and after working with numerous foreign investors I always tell everyone that the key to successfully investing in US property is the team that you establish on the ground that will look after your investments.