Finding Positive Cashflow

[Joey Brantley]

So I got a lot of great feedback on my Input for choosing a market post from a month ago. I started seriously looking into properties in the Greater Cleveland, Indianapolis, and DFW markets. 

To share the details again. I'm a first-time buyer, Veteran, hoping to use my VA Loan to get into my first property and live in for 1 year before turning it into a rental. I'm very sensitive to heat and humidity so I'm not really considering the Southeast. (I know, DFW can be quite hot and humid, but it's home.) My budget is up to $500k.

I'm attracted to Indy and Cleveland for the prevalence of multi-family properties that I can potentially house hack. But I've found that most of the deals that cashflow are in the less than desirable neighborhoods, Cs and Ds. While after reading David's Long-Distance Real Estate Investing book, he suggested only investing in decent areas so as to avoid headaches down the road. I guess I'm just confused on what I should do there.

For DFW, it's completely different story. I grew up there, so it has a major intangible draw for me being close to friends and family again. But aside from that, I can't see anything CLOSE to cash flowing as an LTR in DFW, only STR or MTR, which I am open to.

I just could use any guidance or advice here. Anyone with knowledge of those particular markets, or just share your perspective. Thanks community.