This normally would not be an issue but the cost of the water/sewer is extremely high in this area and specifically because the meter is a one inch, the costs are much higher than a normal 3/4 inch on a non-duplex. 

We have a high saturation of rentals that has caused the market to lose money. 

high interest rates have hurt cash flow and long term rentals are still a great investment... they're just not going to throw off rental income in the first few years of ownership.

Where I have seen "open concept on the way out" is in the very high end properties.  

This was a highly successful transaction.

Of course the high crime statistics cannot be ignored in these cites, however I'm planning to buy only in the nicer/low crime neighborhoods which hopefully eliminates most of the crime risk.I was wondering if any of you could provide feedback on comparing these 3 cities.

The area’s limited number of apartment buildings means that many renters prefer single-family properties, creating steady demand for these homes.Having assisted numerous buyers in Little Rock, I’ve seen firsthand the opportunities this market offers.

Ask yourself: Do you know ANY highly successful real estate investors or sales pros who sleep in, waste time, and still crush it? 

Investors aren’t avoiding the work, they’re just focusing on higher returns and leveraging their experience.That said, even the high-level investors we work with still BRRRR single-family homes, they’ve just added larger deals into the mix.

While Colorado's market can be challenging due to high prices, exploring suburbs like Colorado Springs or Pueblo, or even considering out-of-state markets in the Midwest or Southeast, can open up better cash flow opportunities.