To make the most of this opportunity, I'd love to hear advice on promising emerging cities to focus on, the advantages and disadvantages of each, and alternative financing methods beyond traditional mortgages

Hey BP family,Know of any good GCs, or specialty trades [flooring, plumbing, electrical, etc.] in  Toledo? 

Enemy method. 

Start-up costs are also deductible but are amortized over 15 years with a limit of 5k.Start-up costs have strict rules and your case might not be the same as this one.Case Summary:Timeline line of eventsStarted investigating property: FebPut first contract (canceled): MayBought first property: December 30thWhether a taxpayer is engaged in a trade or business is determined using a facts and circumstances test under which courts have focused on the following three factors that indicate the existence of a trade or business:Whether the taxpayer undertook the activity intending to earn a profit;Whether the taxpayer is regularly and actively involved in the activity; andWhether the taxpayer's activity has actually commenced.On the basis investor testimony, we may assume that he undertook this activity to make a profit and that he regularly and actively engaged in it.

If your rents are way low, you should methodically increase them.  

My friend has invested in Cincinnati OH these past few years using the BRRRR method.

I am not against the buy-to-lease method, for someone else to implement, but right now it's not what I do.2.

Im finding some really nice deals in Northeast Ohio (Cleveland Metro) that I’d like to get some buyers on using the wholesale method of investing. 

You will need to get as much of a P&L as you can from the business for the last two years and also run numbers on projections based on your competition's enemy method.

Quote from @Jamie Banks: After receiving the request on Furnished Finder I reached out to the guest via their preferred communication method.