Folks very often dont  realize the cost of being self employed when every facet of your life comes out of your pocket.

Multifamily mindset has recruited students from all walks of life such as teachers, medical doctors, veterans, real estate agents, business men, and I was included into a group (multifamily mindset encourages students to form groups) and one of them is a veteran who is divorced, has kids to support, not employed during that time, got a loan of $40,000 for the tuition.

Moreover, I would recommend prioritizing a W2 position over 1099 self-employment/sales for two reasons.

I'd have them sign my own lease on renewal and I'd make sure I had enough information on them so I can go after them if a legal issue arises such as employer and other similar data. 

Solid employment history.  

Our manager looks at employment, rental history.

Strong rental demand: With major employers like the Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals, along with a growing arts and culture scene, Cleveland attracts a steady stream of renters.Revitalization efforts: Many areas of Cleveland are experiencing significant revitalization, which can lead to increased property values and appreciation potential.I can't comment on the Detroit market specifically, I have never been and have never done any research on it!

Our SFH rental had an unpaved driveway and parking area, but for the change to MTR, I had it paved because it could get muddy when it rained.

HELOCs are much tricker than a closed end second - they don't typically allow you to close in an LLC and they are full doc qualification, meaning your FICO, employment history, income, DTI etc all come into play.

I use the 3x rent for my first barometer, steady employment, good credit, and of course 3 years of rental history.