If you're getting a good enough deal on the sticker price that you can take the significant interest rate bump without it really mattering, and then use HML type financing which doesn't follow the Fannie/Freddie rules, and plays fast & lose with things like the PATRIOT Act.

That way you can make sure you're pricing it at market value or just below because with the flood zone it probably won't sell above market value to make-up for extra costs you encounter along the way.

This is my goal and my upmost intention, to be able to give back to all those I encounter as someone has always given back to me.

We encounter the same thing on service stuff. 

Rarely do we ever have any encounters with the law, and at the WORST if pulled over by the law enforcement they will tell you to just leave the area, but keep in mind this is after canvassing an area for hours at a time.

That doesn't mean Colorado Springs is a bad market for investing (I think the opposite is true), but depending on investor expectations, there can be some sticker shock.

I recently got a pre-approval back from a great mortgage lender but was a bit sticker shocked when it came back at 5.50%.

I've encountered delays I'll be more ready for next time.

Hopefully, you don't encounter the situation and you can find a rent payment company to handle your regular monthly payments. 

when asking the agent to specifically find a duplex or larger, you shouldn't encounter any problems.