After the first year of renting them, and if their values have risen enough, I'll "trade up" for something else with a higher cashflow (assuming I go for a higher downpayment.) 

This will have a higher expense buy may very well be worth it for your listings and companies health and growth. 

If my husband and I were to start over again we would buy higher quality assets and not be focused on immediate cash flow and unit count like we were when we started this after exiting a fairly decent sized small business.

Here it would be 25% down ($275k)A balance of $825k at 7% (or higher) $5,490/mo, figure $250/mo insurance, $500/mo property taxes $6,250/mo. 

I do fear your cost may be higher than you predict and may result in a property tax increase.good luck

But section 8 is the way to go, higher rents + more security.

Cleveland will have a lower cost of entry and higher cashflow, Columbus a higher cost of entry but probably a good mix of cash flow and appreciation.

The downside is they usually come with higher interest rates and shorter loan terms.Partnerships or Co-signers: If your husband or a trusted partner has U.S. legal status and credit history, they might be able to co-sign or help with financing.Cash Purchases: Since you have savings in Canada, you might consider using that for your first property, especially for a smaller rehab project.Foreign National Loans: Some lenders specialize in providing loans for foreign nationals.

The electric bill is also high, it is a little higher allocation than the propane.  

As a point of clarification, DSCR loans don't require a higher down payment than conventional, they just have different underwriting criteria and less concern on your personal financial situation.