Grand Rapids is an excellent investment opportunity for the long game where appreciation and equity build up are the priorities. 

They look like great homes and they are in an excellent market.  

Sherry, Chris, and Nathan - All of the above are excellent feedback.

Industrial midwest cities help built this country and this economy and many got left behind after the manufacturing left and I've seen it first hand how it destroyed communities but they're resilient cities with very strong and resilient people and are excellent for Section 8 rentals.

I guess I am in the wrong so my bad on this.Perhaps I am coming from a perspective of a conventional strategy where banks  barely interact with their borrowers and treat them like a statistic on their Excel spreadsheet - again my bad on this.

I have no idea how/what he’s doing now but I have two degrees, excellent job, no student debt, car paid off, I live rent-free with my boyfriend, have cash in the bank and am looking for my first rental property. :)

Excellent suggestions, thank you. 

It should still be clear this is an excellent situation.

Everything I have read says I wouldn't get a 2nd conventional loan right away even though my numbers are excellent (credit above 800 and over $500k in my 401k with a monthly pension). 

This is assuming excellent credit, ratio of 1.00+ on a SFH with a long-term lease at 75% LTV.