I can see in states like California, you would end up with a squatter tenant pretty easy, and then you're screwed? 

Think across the river or highway from the East End, or south/north of downtown in neighborhoods that have easy access to the city and walkable downtown areas.

There is no easy answer so you'll have to decide which path will give you the least regret.  

This isn't easy to measure directly.

Conveniently located just minutes from the interstate, this home offers an easy commute to Bangor and Newport, while Etna Pond and its public boat launch are just a short drive away.

A 10% yield looks great on paper but it's easy to let that slip away if each returning payment cannot quickly get put back to work at a similar yield.

I also had to get it approved by the city which was pretty easy. 

Fees should be clearly stated in writing, easy to understand, and justifiable.

If it is, it's super easy to show so it's not as much hassle for the buying or selling agent. 

I’d love to hear about the crime rates or any other issues (which we cannot guess from the online stats), and how easy or hard it is to find reliable tenants and property management companies.