The market does offer lower priced investment opportunities and higher cashflow returns, with ongoing revitalization projects like the DORA boosting appreciation potential.

(due to the mortgage being in the market being a lot lower than what I pay.)

I gained equity in the property, and I got higher rents which lowered my living expenses while living there.

Heck, there are even lenders that will NO DSCR, meaning they dont care what the income of the property is and they'll still fund the loan (at a lower LTV and higher interest rate of course). 

So I had a windfall and can sort of "semi retire" with a part time low stress job. 

That will get you looking at cash flow and end up in a lower rated area than you think.

I have focused my research on house hacking due to the lower upfront capital requirements with an FHA loan.

Our life is complicated and I work a complicated stressful job, but if we’re being honest, I also don’t have time for renters, but I somehow make it work and I personally think it pays off.Mtg: 1800Rent: 2900Owe: 200Rate: 4.5 I thinkSell Price: est. 450-460No other rentals except an in law suite on our current primaryFuture goals: would love to use this properly to buy other properties to get out of the corporate rat race. 

If rates drop, more buyers will come to the market and you can refinance to lower your monthly payment.

that we’ve learned in our 24 years, managing almost 700 doors across the Metro Detroit area, including almost 100 S8 leases:Class A Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, 3-5 years for positive cashflow, but you get highest relative rent & value appreciation.Vacancy Est: Historically 10%, 5% the more recent norm.Tenant Pool: Majority will have FICO scores of 680+ (roughly 5% probability of default), zero evictions in last 7 years.Class B Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, decent amount of relative rent & value appreciation.Vacancy Est: Historically 10%, 5% should be applied only if proper research done to support.Tenant Pool: Majority will have FICO scores of 620-680 (around 10% probability of default), some blemishes, but should have no evictions in last 5 yearsClass C Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, high cashflow and at the lower end of relative rent & value appreciation.