now if you could get a seller to be the bank I get that you could smoke and mirror those deals.. but i would think those would be picked over low value or properties in the worst areas of town etc..   

We are looking for low maintenance (so primarily new construction or >2000 and well maintained/rennovated) single family homes.

I feel this gives me the flexibility to find the right solution for my client and not just sell what my bank offers.I'll also throw in my 2 cents on common differences I've seen in my career:CDFIs - Because of their subsidized financing structure, they have the ability to be a low cost lender (and sometimes provide grants).

Ohio is a great place for cash flow since rental demand is high, property prices are low, and rents are solid.

I would upgrade properties every 12-15 months as allowed by low down payment loans if my significant other wasn’t risk adverse and opposed to moving.

After 2 years you can apply for a “Rent consideration” (I think that’s what they called it) as long as you still live there and that may allow you to increase rents by more than the annual allowance (probably designed for unit that are very low rents).

Prices are low and they hit the bottom during the real estate crash.

And like many other cities, vacancy rates are still low, lots of demand for housing of all types.  

I have actually cashed out a lot of my IRA now bc I have so much depreciation from RE that my tax bracket is very low and the taxes to pay on the IRA withdrawal are also pretty much non existent (taking aside the penalty). 

High demand and still relatively low entry costs.