Also, unless it is a rare unicorn tenant who is super fastidious, any yard will soon look like a dumping ground for poo.

The other cities just seemed saturated with investors and it was hard to find reliable boots on ground.

@Sean Snider look for cracks in the foundation, ground level ness to the house can signal shifting, bowing of basement walls, buckling siding. 

If you can find the place where everything starts, then you present the history of overcharges and unwarranted penalties and demand they straighten it out.The only other things you can do are what you have already spoken about - come to NYC or hire someone on the ground to sort it out for you by physically going to the management company. 

it is not the same as smelling a fresh ground cup of joe that is served at the local coffee shop.

Be careful on your location and have boots on the ground. 

I need to build a buyers list because I have boot on the ground all the time and I can find properties with no problem.

Also their population has grown by almost 50% since 2000http://www.city-data.com/city/Bakersfield-Californ...I know that some areas in the central valley have experienced literal sinking due to pulling too much groundwater out of the ground though.

They can be a crucial part of your team in an area you may not know well and be boots on the ground for you.

The best way to do market research is go to the area meet up with people investing in the area and be on the ground.