Based off your experience, would locals consider this a deal or would you believe they'd pass on it since finding cheap distressed properties in this area is a dime a dozen?

While searching for properties to consider, I came across a few mobile homes in the area that are pretty darn cheap. 

Homes are cheap, schools are good, and streets are safe.

They want a kitchen with all appliances and utensils, they want a washer/dryer, and they are happy to pay as much per week as a cheap local motel room

Maybe even supplement with a cheap cash for keys.

It's impossible to start without an off-market deal that you get for cheap, which requires hours of cold calls or marketing schemes til you find the poor guy who's willing to sell you his house undervalued. 

I had been looking around and had made one flight out to look at properties with a local agent.

Make contact with a private money broker who works with at least 5 lenders, not a captive one.10 Get a CRM.. you can get hubspot and a few others free or cheap to start.

This is very cheap to do and atleast in the Chicago north side market will increase rents $100-200 per unit which adds up 2) HVAC not sure if any of the buildings are on boiler systems but by switching to individual tenant paid furnaces will greatly increase NOI 3) Shop property management.

Buy right, don’t be cheap on your rehabs and you will get better tenants and higher rents.