But, depending on who you're renting it to, they can be rough on the house. 

Depending on the location of your properties, an assistant might be much better than a property management company.

That will be tough to use your HELOCs together to get another loan because of your collective DTI so it will depend on that.

It's always worth comparing rates and terms, as some lenders might be more aggressive with loan-to-value ratios, depending on the location and property condition.

Hey David, the best metrics depend on your investment goals, risk tolerance, and market conditions.

I mean this depends on where you are at financially.

You are bleeding money now, but each year it might actually get worse depending on the financials. 

@Hector Lewis - The decision ultimately depends on your current cash reserves relative to your financial needs, as well as your willingness to reinvest for potential appreciation.

So it really is market dependent. 

I agree with many of @Alan Asriants' points, especially when considering OOS Sec. 8 investing.A lower price point or smaller investment doesn't always mean low risk.House-hacking locally could be a better transition depending on your goals and situation.