Over this time I have acquired my contractor team and have vetted them through my job as a property manager, figured out my strategy(Off Market/Deep buying) and location.

If you stay in Northern Minnesota you could look to locate closer to Duluth which has a large supply of duplexes at prices much below $500K.

Often, it will also need work.So, that is causing investors to lower their standards and buy Class C & D rentals.Problem is, most investors apply Class A assumptions to these Class C/D properties - and then blame everyone else when they don't get their "expected" results.Check out copy & paste info below for more dtails:------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Recommend you first figure out the property Class you want to invest in, THEN figure out the corresponding location to invest in.Property Class will typically dictate the Class of tenant you get, which greatly IMPACTS rental income stability and property maintenance/damage by tenants.If you apply Class A assumptions to a Class B or C purchase, your expectations won’t be met and it may be a financial disaster.If you buy/renovate a property in Class D area to Class A standards, what quality of tenant will you get?

The other thing I have learned over time is that the clearer your vision is, the easier it is to get there, so CLEARLY defining the location, type of property, purchase price, renovation amount, etc. etc., will really make a big difference.

@Stan MendozaRecommend you first figure out the property Class you want to invest in, THEN figure out the corresponding location to invest in.Property Class will typically dictate the Class of tenant you get, which greatly IMPACTS rental income stability and property maintenance/damage by tenants.If you apply Class A assumptions to a Class B or C purchase, your expectations won’t be met and it may be a financial disaster.If you buy/renovate a property in Class D area to Class A standards, what quality of tenant will you get?

Did you have a personal connection to the neighborhood or area where this property is located?

Central location works best like you want.

Study what kind of properties sell, for how much, and what kind of tenants live there.Think with a 10year+ vision, but a decently sound property (not a 1900 single family conversion that is begging for a full gut rehab), and but in the RIGHT location. 

This is exactly what I do in different locations (glamping).

Quote from @Kornelius Friske: We have a STR located in peoria AZ. it's 6 beds (garage conversion) and about 3900 sq ft in total. our energy bill last month was $450 and has been hovering in the $350-$450 range since we went live in august.