.-- Yes it seems like Milwaukee real estate has leveled off, but it doesn't seem to have the massive value swings that California has had. 

Most of the time, I'm doing custom stuff on MySQL/PHP at certain build levels on apache systems, with minimal UI (95% web-based anymore).

Maybe it's a lot of communication at first until you establish a level of trust.  

While there was some appreciation in early 14, after that it got stagnated. and given the price levels, it mayn't appreciate anytime soon in this area.

Not sure an attorney is needed unless you want to bring them in for more higher level planning. 

Prices are also start at quite reasonable levels ($400ish for stoves, $500ish for refrigerators, etc.).  

Also, how does one develop a comfort level while investing out of country?

That you believe this to be how RECs operate shows that you know very little about how real estate is regulated at the state level.  

 (3000 units added in 2015 and 5000 units slated for 2016) Well, when they were built, they were built as condos and can easily be converted now that the housing stock is back to a reasonable level.  

Hard to say for sure but I'd expect a 2BR to be well under a thousand and even 3BRs probably just scraping that level probably in the $900 range.As I said without the address it is hard to say but I did just to a rentometer search around an address for a listed 4 fam that is asking a little over $200K and it gave the median for a 3BR as $850.