You really can have a block of nice homes with market value next to a block of boarded up abandoned homes worth next to nothing.

Five months later, with 2018 looming large, I abandoned the safety of the corporate hive and delved completely into real estate.

No abandoned vehicles.

I don't think anyone would be using their own personal phone number.However having a phone number to call and making an appointment to see an abandoned, tax defaulted, condemned house with the local police posing as the seller makes catching the trashers easy. 

@Delbert Standifer we've completely abandoned the idea of a mountain cabin, at least for now.

Maybe heating abandoned buildings, purchasing out dated buildings via Imminent domain, or hiring local property managers to lease out units on behalf of the government would be potential solutions.

I can only imagine what a 40-unit apartment cost there.To answer one of your questions...you don't have to abandon fix-n-flipping smaller deals.

Should I abandon ship and sell the property once it is time for me to move out of it?

One of the market tactics Iv'e seen poverty cities use, is by demolishing blighted and abandoned homes.

Afterall, you don't really want it, its abandoned and you're an absentee owner.