It is the state capital with lots of economic development driving job growth and demand for housing with a lower cost of living to keep maintenance costs down.To Your Success!

The odors are not always easy to eliminate within the normal apartment turnover routine.

That HE loan would make you cash flow negative on the first property, especially considering you are not even factoring in any repairs, maintenance, vacancy or management.

There is a faster review/approval process if the exterior works are minor and for maintenance purpose.

I'd be happy to connect and talk through the pros and cons of this market, but I have quite a few of my investors coming from out of state to invest here since they can tap into my network of GC's and service providers to manage the property if needed and get any work/maintenance done!

It will help you analyze deals quickly but you will likely need to adjust some of the figures such as rent, % towards vacancy/cap ex/maintenance.  

Part of the reasons hydrants didn't work was some water storage was already depleted for maintenance. 

Finally, the cost of living is relatively low which makes maintenance costs lower for the labor.To Your Success!

I will also look for houses with deferred maintenance and search them to see if there is an absentee owner and/or older in age, maybe ready to move or downsize!

I don't know if this is true, however it would make sense that when you routinely pay down the HELOC, your interest amount declines and is not based on 6 month ave.