I am not suggesting you need to do it your self but you should know enough to intelligently work with your chosen professional.

I don't think as many people are looking in those towns/areas as, say, Providence or Pawtucket.I would just say, familiarize yourself with the landlord-tenant laws of each state as early as you can since that might affect where you want to ultimately buy, and you'll need to know them anyway.I don't have a resource handy for Connecticut but for Rhode Island the venerable Landlord-Tenant Handbook is a great starting place as it tries to translate the laws (the RI Residential Landlord and Tenant Act aka RIGL 34-18) into human-readable text.

The Sheriff removed every living being (humans and animals) from the premises at the address.  

I haven't chosen a program yet but have been following this post to get some ideas.  

Yes an independent appraiser is chosen from a Appraisal Management Company and Unison and lender don't influence them as is normal for any conventional loan. 

@Omar Gonzalez Not a specific reccomendation but just an observation, ask your chosen sponsor if they have ever failed and if they say no...run a mile the other way, it means they either have too little experience or they are not telling the truth.

Investors may have to wait several years for their investment to pay off, affecting short-term liquidity.High Minimums: Many syndication deals require substantial minimum investments, often tens of thousands of dollars, due to the scale of the properties being acquired.Diversification: While syndications offer diversification, it might be limited to the types of properties chosen by the syndicators, potentially leading to less customization for individual investors.Risk of Misaligned Interests: Crowdfunding platforms might not have the same alignment of interests as direct relationships with syndicators.

Piles of human feces in the sidewalk.

They have to be well trained and cared for, and I meet them as I do the human renters.  

What's the current demand for properties in your chosen area?