I don't have rentals in Lebanon, most of the investors I know who are up in your neck of the woods look at towns like Claremont. 

I've also done some reading on how that process can be a pain.

After a long, painful process of going back and forth with the attorney (turns out she originally tried to do all the paperwork with the courthouse without an attorney and fouled everything up) we finally got a final decree from the court putting title in the seller's name.

It may just be a convenience thing on my part, but this is the only way I have ever seen it done in my neck of the woods.

Having to do that for something that's far away is a little less painful if you have some other reason/benefit to be in the area (e.g., family).The main site for RI properties is riliving.com so for your question of "would it make sense to look in this area", I'd say find some properties in the area, look at their asking price and what you'd likely have to put down for them, and then look at Craigslist for rental comps.

I feel your pain buddy! 

Suggesting you not try to stick your neck out too far.

It's pretty hard right now to cash flow on a MFR when your in one of the units because purchase prices have sky rocketed. 203k loans are a pain in the butt in a hot market.

No pain, no gain.     

Is going to be a pain.