Some might not be livable at purchase but 5k still seems cheap unless there is something off with the data. maybe the prices were reduced on unlivable properties due to back taxes being part of the deal for the purchase.

The homeowner has direct title, can sell at any time and gets 100% of the appreciation and tax benefits on these houses.

That will show what proposed tax increase you will see.

He isn't a motivated seller.If it will rent for $1900  a month, that means to make money you have to have a payment that includes, principal, interest, prop taxes, insurance, at less than $1400 a month. $190,000 at 3% interest is P&I $801 + prop tax plus insurance a month.

NC is a great market for your goals, however it will be challenging to find inventory that has much cash flow; many people who toss money into multifamily here do it to avoid the tax bill + take the 10 year runway of growth.How much SHF RE do you currently have?

@tom shallcross summarized this well in another post and just inflate your numbers up for a $665k purchase price and $2300/mo per unit for rent.Borrow 80% which is like $3700/mo for Principal, Interest, Taxes, and Insurance.

Note: Florida charges a hefty tax on rentals under 6 months. 

Real estate investing has been a passion of mine for time with my mother also having invested early on where I likely have gotten the love and desire to follow similar foot steps.I have taken last 6 months to educate myself and currently own a single family home as primary residence and would like to expand to multi family properties (2-4 units) for additional stream of income, not to mention potential tax benefits for long-term investing.Based on current living situation, I have a fair amount of equity established in my primary residency along with having enough cash to either pay off house completely or use towards investing in a multi family property.Given that I'm the sole source of income for our household with my wife being the home maker for our two kids under 2, trying to weigh out risks with getting started now or perhaps waiting. 

As you know its near impossible to find a good cash flowing deal in CA due to sale price, taxes and lack of inventory.Last one I closed on was over off of Germantown Road it was a great 2 unit that needed a little TLC for $160K but passed an inspection and was livable.

I again state the problem is with the underwriting.  8.5% vacancy, pm 15%, 25% turn over (using my reduced numbers) or 37.5% using your actual, my minimum maint/cap ex would be 50%, prop tax, insurance, missed payment (seeing my vacancy only included the one month turn over), P&I?