KC is a great market for RE investing and there is a ton of growth between Lawrence and KC - the Tesla battery plant is a huge growth driver.

A misdemeanor may be sufficient to deny application if the conviction was recent and didn't involve a more serious crime, such as battery or intentional property damage.

This will become the largest chip manufacturer in the world. 2.Honda/LG Energy Investment in Jeffersonville - Honda & LG are partnering up together to invest $4.5B in a new EV battery plant in Jeffersonville.

Unfortunately with tenants you can't trust them to keep up with things like replacing furnace/ductless filters,  smoke detector batteries,  or sometimes even light bulbs.   

I have good luck with them and they have low battery warnings but things can still happen. 

Personally, my mortgage company provides me a ton of stress and my wife and I do ground up spec construction and flips, but I can't imagine adding rentals to that.

Do check ins every 6 months-check the furnace filter and batteries in the smoke detectors/CO detectors to make sure they are working. 

Batteries, comes up missing, stops working, etc..

Many (even experienced) General Contractors (who have lots of 'rehab' experience) will tell you they can do it, but I recommend workingwith a team / GC who has new construction experience specifically.We have spent the better part of the last 3 years designing and building single family homes and small multi-unit buildings (on spec) on the North and NW sides of Chicago. 

Property tax is public record, you can look up a neighbor's property.Ask a neighbor about their utility costs.Call an insurance broker and get a quote based on your build specs.