Would it be a good idea to take a deposit to secure the deal until the rule clears?

I am not saying you are wrong because I don't know the Cleveland market.    

Not all great deals are listed on the MLS.

For a while I looked into medium size deals like 30-50 units in class B neighborhoods, but ultimately could not negotiate a deal to the point where it would have made financial sense.

I’ve run into this many times on deals I acquired and rehabbed utilizing hard money.  

So in the words of Clint Eastwood: "A man has to know his own limitations."

@Jenna Chen, keep in mind that there are other strategies and avenues to explore regarding house hack deals in metro ATL besides the classic duplex example.

What made you interested in investing in this type of deal?

So, when investing in areas they don’t really know, investors should research the different property Class submarkets.

You can contribute by finding deals or managing properties in exchange for a share of the profits.Lease Options: Control properties without owning them by renting with an option to buy, and potentially sublease for profit.Owner Financing: Buy properties directly from sellers willing to finance, bypassing traditional lenders and often requiring less upfront money.REIGs: Join real estate investment groups to pool funds with others for property investments.For a more hands-off approach, investing in turnkey properties in growing markets with minimal upfront investment would be ideal (like in the Southeast and Midwest of the country).