It is difficult (though not impossible) to make condos pencil out for a positive ROI is tough (but not impossible). 

Cleveland and Dayton can be great markets for high cash flow and low purchase prices, but you need to be careful when navigating the neighborhoods so you're not buying in a D/F class area where no property managers will manage and where you'll never see any positive cash flow.

My experience has been overwhelmingly positive, but—like any market—it depends on your approach, risk tolerance, and the team you have in place.Detroit is unique.

Once you get going, your appreciation will be great over time so you can recycle the equity to buy more and more properties.

@Chris CoreYou're in a strong financial position, but since house hacking isn’t lowering your expenses in your market, it's time to pivot.

It's the same skill set but the financial returns and community impact are exponentially greater for everyone.There’s no reason that we can’t and shouldn’t be the ones revitalizing our communities instead of outsiders OR worse nobody at all.There are less opportunities in smaller towns and who is in the best position to truly understand the needs of the community?

I only buy if I can have equity right from the start.

By having additional parcels, investors can generate more equity and value compared to simply adding an ADU.

Most will cover up to 100% of the renovation costs and 70-90% of the purchase price, depending on factors like the type of property itself, your experience, credit position, and the lender’s specific guidelines.  

That’s a great move—starting early with analyzing deals will put you in a strong position when you're ready to buy.Since you're open to other markets in the Southeast, I’d definitely recommend taking a look at Chattanooga.