If nobody lives there then there is likely less or no emotional attachment involved. 

As you dig into the forums and resources here, you'll find a lot of good information about different levels of involvement - from truly passive options like syndications to more hands-off approaches with direct ownership.

The time and expense involved are minimal relative to the potential investment. 

From her perspective, a small increase is often more cost-effective than relocating, which would involve a new application, moving expenses, a new deposit, first month’s rent, and additional fees such as insurance or a resident benefit package.To help offset the increase and encourage tenant retention, you might consider offering a small improvement, such as updated light fixtures or another minor upgrade, that adds value to the property and enhances the tenant’s experience.

That team gives you real eyes on the ground and helps you avoid costly surprises.

This sounds overwhelming and has a lot of math involved. 

Quote from @Sebastian E.: Yes it is a legitimate website.

I’ve been involved in the off-market space in Cleveland for a number of years and would be happy to share a few contacts and what to watch out for if that’d be useful.

However, most of the work involved involves searching for off-market raw land with development potential, finding the owner and seeing if they're willing to sell. 

Finally, get some “eyes on the ground” by asking vendors for before and after photos, and for bigger jobs, pay a trusted local contact to check the work so you are not flying blind from afar.