No roller coaster rides. 

@Colleen F.Since I first posted, we actually had someone interested in both vacant units… It’s like good news really really bad news good news, awful news… Such a roller coaster!

This will allow you to not have such a emotional roller coaster when it comes to qualifying with financing.As for your Debt to Income you will need to be around 45-50% max (upper of 50% if you have lots of cash reserves).If you have the property bringing in 900 per month that you just bought for 60k then a lender assuming they dont have too many overlays will allow you to use 75% of this rent or 675 to offset your monthly PITIA or principal/interest/tax/insurance/assessments.Your PITIA  on 60k depending on which state you have this house should be around 400 per month so you'd be positive 275 income per month (675 - 400 = 275).So it actually helps you qualify for more since 45% DTI of this additional 275 income you've gained is $123.75.

Do you think a huge government and university job base may have something to do with the lack of a roller coaster ride in prices you see in other cities? 

My experience with our STR in Wilmington has been a bit of a roller-coaster.

Ride the roller coaster that is the stock market and end up with a nice retirement in 7-12 years. 

You east coasters and your attorneys is really something...

We all know that REI is like a roller coaster.

Finding reliable "how to estimate repair costs" has been a roller coaster with how much the cost of things have changed. 

After couple of years of roller coaster ride, finally I found a good contractor.