It wouldn't make sense to choose a city where you'd spend significant time and money battling regulations just to conduct normal business operations.

Also, I normally try not to call out people or pick fights on social media, but please do not refi your loans into DSCRs thinking this will fix the problem.

But they can't come to part with it and don't really trust handing it off to some PM to run it for STR that doesn't have "skin in the game". 

Commercial banks like to see low leverage and they love paid for assets :)But if your W 2 and a mom and pop land lord getting your normal debt those are all computer driven formulas and there is not a big focus on balance sheet.

Normally, when you get a VA loan there is a one year occupancy for the property. 

If not section 8, I would make the rent $1050 for a normal paying tenant.Now, the tenant is upset about the large increase cause I thought sec 8 was paying it. 

If you want to buy, give a couple Sears Outlets a call, they normally have a couple sets around and since they likely sit for a decent amount of time the store might be motivated to drop the price a bit to move it.

Skin in the game.

You'll want to be very cautious of what is considered normal wear and tear. 

I put $2000 down to have skin in the game.