I went owner occupied either conventional or FHA.  3-5% down at the time you only had to live there 1 year and then you can move out or move on. 

I like to look for locations that are good, and that I’d feel safe and comfortable living in if I was a single woman with a couple of kids.

I live in the Milwaukee area and want to get started investing locally but eventually want to branch out into other cities and states.

Hey @John FriendasI have purchased 4 of my Co-Living (rent by room) properties with DSCR, 1 of them within the last few months.Not that I necessarily recommend this, but there are short-term-rental DSCR products.

Rodrigues' recommendation may change this), but my next question would be, are there any cities/markets where 1 of the following are true: 1) You have family/friends that live there, 2) You travel there frequently (either for vacation, work, etc.), or 3) Somewhere else you've lived before AND know the area well?

I have a tenant who lives in my very nice three bedroom unit whose lease provides a pet authorization for “one dog, one cat and one rabbit.”

I live in the Las Vegas market and have investments and a real estate brokerage in Henderson.

If they do, you may have a chance under the scenario you're proposing - if they share your concern for it's condition (although that seems unlikely since they've been living with it the way it is for some time, it seems).If you own it, it's pretty lowbrow to expect a neighbor to invest in your property. 

I own a 4plex where I live in one and rent the other 3. 

The law does NOT apply to landlords:With less then 5 rental unitsThat live in one unit of a duplex and rent out the other unitThat rent out rooms in the home they occupySo, landlords can no longer state in their rental ads, "Section 8 not accepted".The reverse is also true, "Section 8 only", cannot be used.We've always recommended screening S8 tenants the same way as cash-paying tenants.Landlords waiving application fees and/or security deposits only for S8 prospects may also be violating Fair Housing.