There's usually a good reason why the entry points are lower.

In this case, you can use Rental Income from the units that you will not be living in and that income can count to help you qualify.FHA rates are going to be lower than conventional for you almost always, but FHA does have a 1.75% funding fee. 

. -- Thus, you can expect to get Class C or D tenants, which have a 15-25% probability of defaulting on their lease payments.2) If your PMC is lowering FICO to 550, what are they doing to improve their screening in other areas?

This was my first deal, and house hacking made the most sense because it lowered the threshold for risk in my mind.

Right now they are "high" (compared to 2020) and people "think" they are going lower. 

Suggesting to them buying their house for a wholesale range offer or lower dependent on the extent of the rehab, then having a contract in place that gives them a percentage of the profit to help get them back on their feet, paying off debts etc.

Sherman does seem interesting though because of the lower cost and growth potential.  

Lower Tenant TurnoverTenants are more likely to stay in rental properties where the financial barrier to entry is lower.

With the equity you’d free up, paying off $50k in personal debt and boosting your credit score while freeing up $3k/month sounds like it could significantly lower your stress and open doors for future projects.That said, selling means you’d lose a cash-flowing asset, even if it’s not huge.

But as far monthly payment you could easily buy a house in a cheaper location have less roommates and the same monthly payment or the same number of roommates and a lower monthly payment.