On the flip side, you could purchase in lower-risk areas like Gwinnett, Cobb, and Fulton County and have a cosmetic rehab, but it'll come with a higher purchase price. 

All else being equal, lower mortgage rates reduce the cost of ownership and, thereby, allow more people to afford to buy.

I have confirmed what @Garrett Brown shared -- my best option is an SBA disaster loan with a lower than normal interest rate to pay off our mortgage and then I can also hope for / pursue with others a land buyback program for those of us who have floodplain property that FEMA won't reinsure.

I always chuckle when people ask for a 'Investor friendly Contractor'.....do they really think there are Contractors out there that automatically lower their prices by 20% just because an investor calls....? 

They would not be able to add to the portfolio as they go, though.With lower leverage in the 50% LTV range, they could expect to be in the 6.45% range on a 30-year fixed today.

:Class A Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, 3-5 years for positive cashflow, but you get highest relative rent & value appreciation.Vacancy Est: Historically 10%, 5% the more recent norm.Tenant Pool: Majority will have FICO scores of 680+ (roughly 5% probability of default), zero evictions in last 7 years.Class B Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, decent amount of relative rent & value appreciation.Vacancy Est: Historically 10%, 5% should be applied only if proper research done to support.Tenant Pool: Majority will have FICO scores of 620-680 (around 10% probability of default), some blemishes, but should have no evictions in last 5 yearsClass C Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, high cashflow and at the lower end of relative rent & value appreciation.

Currently looking in the Belleville area, simply for lower entry costs, but we want to get into the GTA market ASAP!

@Carl TrubLots of legal and tax implications - you should look at having them put the home in a living trust.I am not an attorney but there are ways to make it so your cost basis is today's value versus a lower value such as if you buy it at a low cost.

For example, if someone clicks that they didn't hear back will the listing be featured lower?

As you're probably aware, AB 1482 caps annual rent increases at 5% + CPI or 10%, whichever is lower.