To the poster talking about "urban legend", a few minutes with Google will get you as many citations as you desire. 

@Barrington SmithI use this equationto back into my maximum allowable offer (MAO)ARV - Rehab Costs -Holding Costs - Purchase & Sale Costs - Desired Profit as a percentage ofARV = MAO

There's a shortage of desirable houses, and houses close to the peak of the work action. 

So many celebrities are leaving that the news talks about it quite regularly, and many of them cite increased crime, toxic policies, homelessness, a desire for their children to have better communities, etc.

I literally told them (Sparklight) the service was for the building and had no difficulties obtaining this.I can see the day when there will no longer be USPS; by their own inflexibility to serve others and move toward the changing postal needs and desires of people, they have set in motion their obsolescence.

It's far less comfortable day to day having roommates vs your own side of a duplex, but it would allow you to own an asset in a more desirable neighborhood that will likely see greater appreciation over the long term.I hope that helps.

I am looking for an agent who has experience with working with investors and who knows the area well (rents, desirable areas vs. undesirable areas, etc).

This strategy aligns well with your desire to build equity quickly and transition to rentals.

It's impossible to know everything about a market, so any value add information is expressly desired, and I appreciate it!

Should I be looking in less desireable neighborhoods?