This is not a good deal on really any level. 

My wife and I have invested in relatively low end townhouses in MoCo, however we are finding it challenging to find multi-family in that area or any place close to DC within our price range/level of risk.Either we've felt uncomfortable with the expense of the multi-family properties or (perhaps incorrectly) equated the higher priced properties as a tradeoff of low cash flow and possibly higher appreciation (due to increasing rents) vs higher current cash flow and lower appreciation in the more remote areas.

Deeper searching showed that the couple was military (VA loan) , used a military financial institution.

Having the rent for an area you're not investing in won't help you much, frankly, since there's different factors that come into play to affect rent levels.

An investor will need to know the risk level.  

Even at a contractor level, I wont compile a material list of all of it.

You're already in a losing situation if they're not paying rent - now is a good time to speak to an attorney to make sure you don't dig the hole deeper by prolonging or mishandling the eviction process.My cut off for managing properties is about 20 minutes north of Edison, but If you want to give me a ring I'll share whatever I know with you, and point you in the right direction on anything I can't help out with.

I did this program at the lowest level.

Expensive and may not be worth it: Level it with self-leveling compound.

Investigate deeper in why the tax is so low.