You shouldn't touch a Baltimore neighborhood under $200k unless you are a very experienced landlord with class c/d properties.

So at a  minimum you need to be firm that the rent is enough to cover your expenses (including insurance, PM fee, capital reserves for repairs)I'd go on Facebook Marketplace and on any Facebook Groups you find for KSU Housing and post it there (at a rent rate this is actually covering your expenses) and see if you get response. 

Can try to reposition to Class B, but neighborhood may impede these efforts.Vacancy Est: Historically 10%, but 15-20% should be used to also cover tenant nonpayment, eviction costs & damages.Tenant Pool: majority will have FICO scores of 560-620 (approaching 22% probability of default), many blemishes, but should have no evictions in last 2 years.

If a neighborhood is full of STRs, then not as scary.

Also, would you suggest using professional firms to do the hiring process or should I do on my own to save money?

Howerver, I have resrvations about how this will impact the community's living standards as the development will immediately border some neighborhoods and could bring unwanted environmental impacts and noise. 

The Bloomington-Indianapolis area has diverse submarkets, and identifying the right neighborhoods with growth potential is crucial.

You may have to look at a lot of deals to find a good one...We've walked away from far more than we've purchased because the sellers maywant to hold firm on their asking prices (even when DD identifies majorrepairs).

I’ve had investors in Austin who started small, house-hacking or buying single-family homes in neighborhoods they grew up in.

I've told him no multiple times, that I'm firm on the agreed upon price since he had time ample time for due diligence and if he wants lower, then I want to void the cancel the sales agreement so that I can put it back on market.