I suspect maybe something like Hagerstown or Cumberland, which yeah are Class D like markets with declining populations, high drug problems, no strong job base which leads to non paying tenants.

I have been a PPR investor since 2019 getting anywhere between 8% to 12% return over the years with no payments ever missed. 

Bryan,This is one of the biggest challenges when investing in C/C+ areas, and it’s even more amplified in D-class neighborhoods.

If you have a “good tenant” bend over backwards to create the 5 year no hassle highly profitable relationship I spoke about.  

I get it but over time, you are going to have to understand that no matter what you do, eventually you will have an azz that wants to give you a low rating.

This is because those who househacked actually pulled the trigger and started to gain experience while those looking for strictly an investment were too focused on numbers and returns to get their hand and feet wet.You can put little money down and take advantage of favorable rates. its a no brainer IMO 

Plan on staying married no matter how rocky it gets, work through it, it's worth it. 

Of course values fluctuate and this is over a long period of time.What LA and NY also have that other markets may not is high paying jobs mixed with no land to build more housing.

Screen whenever you can, there's no reason not to.

Quote from @Kristin Vegas: You need to really read and understand your management agreement.A good PM will send you copies of every invoice, no matter how small.