Taxes are only $3K a year.I have also put in approximately $20K into the house to make it more livable ( flooring, new kitchen etc ).With the spike in home values in our area over the past year, I feel that the house is probably worth in the $325K range, and our outstanding balance that we owe now is approx $215K.  1800 ft square house, with attached garage ( which we are going to convert into living space this summer which will take it to 2400 sq ft ) on 3 1/2 acres.Wife and I credit scores prob in the 5/600 range.  

In other words, yields (cash-flow) will increase.We will see a spike of inflation and higher rates, although still historically low, for a year or so before rates continue their trend downwards. 

-meter spike.

Crime spike from 2015-2017 and decreased a bit in 2018. 

Any creative financing suggestions/tips for going in when you're up against brutally well-heeled competition and the seller doesn't have any incentive to be creative?

Coming on the heels of the strong report on housing starts (see above), news on existing home sales continues to demonstrate the remarkable resiliency of our housing market in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

as the AHAI is over double the national average, do you see a demand in rentals spiking or shifting to homeownership?

My sister lives in the area and home prices there have spiked like many Texas markets.

The biggest thing to consider is worst case scenario, vacancy spikes and you have to cover payments on your own for several months.

From a tenants experience, HCIDLA will drag their heels and take the path of least resistance when you bring them a complaint.