They look for customers with established bank relationships and 680+ type scores.

Ideally you establish an operations LLC to take care of your high liability operations like collecting rent, hiring contractors, etc.      

Just providing these numbers for context I know obviously I would have to account for vacancy, CpX, management, financing all that good stuff and the number of units would obviously would be dictated by the size/sqft but overall does having a good pre established building with water and electricity and sewer mean that I can definitely build out my apartments for a discounted price compared to new construction.I don’t want to give the wrong impression, it’s not a dump in anyway.

LLC established in 2017 with business bank accounts, etc.  2.

The village is very close to a larger town that has a hospital and large-ish school system and many retail and restaurant-type establishments, so there’s plenty of folks there looking for long-term rentals.Property 1:This is a duplex, built in 1895.

When one can establish facts sufficient to convince a reasonably prudent person that the owner of record has abandoned his/her property, then courts can and do find that the owner has implicitly abandoned the property.Abandonment of real estate, either expressly or implicitly, is also a valid defense against a charge of trespass. 

Figured since I’ll be there I mind as well get a better understanding of the Pittsburgh market and establish some quality relationships while visiting via business.

Even then when I have gotten hard money its not that cheap.I also loan money occasionally and wouldn't consider lending at those rates as it isnt worth my ROI for the risk profile of a flip unless you have an established relationship (read 3-5 deals in the past year) with the lender.Most of the hard money lenders have private lending backers or institutional money that expects an IRR of 8-10%.

Any advantage (financial or legal protection) to establish the LLC in NC rather than operating as a foreign entity in NC?

Not sure where to find an established and ethical partner is the thing.