Mainly the "self sufficiency test". 

Then progress to permits and then building.You could also just do it and hope the city doesn't notice, which they probably won't.Your challenge will be getting Certificates of Compliance on the units!

@Kelly Pintos Of course I am partial to Kansas City.

Then again, curb appeal doesn't matter as much in the inner-city parts of my market - more so in the suburbs.Lastly, if a property is newly built/renovated, 'neutral' may not be the best route.

You can also use online resources such as City Data to search demographics in the area. 

The main differences (besides rates/underwriting guidelines) is what you can include in your renovation costs.

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.

Called my main guy this spring for some work.

Tools like this helped us determine that retiring in the Memphis Metro area was good for us and has helped form our investing strategy, mainly SFR and some commercial spaces (flex, studios, small office).

Do you have a personal connection to either of those cities/markets?