Basically, just like any market, you can fail - but it can so easily be avoided when you have the resources and expertise needed to navigate it.For Crime Rates in the City Proper see here: https://crimegrade.org/safest-places-in-scranton-pa/ Just like any city, it varies heavily street to street, but is overall a solid place to invest.

Investing in real estate is a great way to build wealth, and it’s smart to start by understanding the basics.

Investing in new construction can make sense here given the strong appreciation and you end up leveraging basically the same amount of cash and have an asset that's not 60+ years old or more. 

The cash-on-cash return for my co-hosting ones are basically infinite because I put zero down in monetary value (sweat equity and experience are another thing) to make a profit.

I had one were my PM calls me its in INDY cold winter they just had baby cant  afford the rent and heat just take no payment for 2 months then they will add the balance any pay it off.. well of course after 2 months they just left  LOL..

Takeaways and next actions for me became very clear in that I need to get back to my basics, posting here, and making offers. 

It will familiarize you with the basic terminology and benefits.

So basically, for a B minus area, for a 3 bedroom brick home you will spend 110k for a rental that brings in $1,400 per month and in a class D neighborhood Section 8 you will be all in for the same cashflow at $80k.If you extend you view to "Metro" Detroit you have more opportunities in Cities like Warren, Hazel Park, Taylor, Romulus, Eastpointe, et al,. 

We have a heated garage at our STR.

I think you are definitely on the exact right track with your thinking - have you put all this side by side in excel (very basic excel "modeled out")>?