When adversity arises, its very easy to shut down, stop communicating and toss around legal threats.

A popular strategy I've seen work is to scale with properties in the C locations and then slowly upgrade your portfolio into the nicer asset classes as you progress and become more cash flow heavy. 

As others have said, fitting what is popular in your market or what will sell best is always the best strategy.

There are so many contingent items that can arise. 

@Michael Anderson If the property had been sold, it would make sense to formally assign the lease and deposit to the new owner and memorialize an agreement to collect and adjust rents after settlement, indemnify the other party for things arising during their respective ownership periods, etc. 

@Kent FordI agree with @Ryan Konen regarding areas like San Antonio’s outskirts, parts of Fort Worth, and growing cities like Tyler and Lubbock, which are becoming popular due to relative affordability and job growth.We will see an interest in smaller metro areas where prices are more accessible and a surge in new construction aimed at entry-level buyers.

With that being said, there will always be issues that will arise.

Data point: we have a long-term rental in a popular STR neighborhood listed through Zillow right now.Every person who writes asking to do some sort of arbitrage is blocked by the Zillow platform.I don't even have to say "no thank you anymore."  

I don't know if this is a recent trend that's come about with the rise in popularity of laundromats, but I've noticed more "fix & flip" situations on the market - mats being sold by owners who have owned for 1-3 years and put some significant improvements in.

Hi - you sound like a perfect candidate for the "DSCR Loan" option - its the loan type thats popular wwith investors and one of the big reasons why is the exact situation you are describing - running into DTI troubles.