@chance @Chance Cooper yes but I have another post about worker comp dangers, so I hired them through a staffing company while legal and legit I didn't have to mess with payroll taxes and workers comp.

Everyone advertises properties as being "blocks from the beach" which are very dangerous areas and not resort or tourist areas.

Putting a space heater in every room can be very dangerous on the electrical systems.  

Hi Michael,I see gentrification, in some areas, and some areas I would not go into day or night.I doubt D-Town will come back to level of Chicago or Austin in our lifetimes because I do not see the high paying large scale multi-multi employer base in the area.There seems to be money to be made there in the non-life threatening areas though, and with the local "Rah Rah" for the area that will probably continue as the dangerous element is driven out by higher costs (where they are going is important too, because dangerous areas seem to be on the move now).In addition to real estate, I see money to made there in (good affordable) startup restaurants, and franchises in super safe walkable areas such as McDonald's or Starbucks (because these franchises seem to work everywhere).Detroit still suffers from city government issues and it's reputation as the Murder Capital.Though I'm not a commercial building investor, I think 4 story or lower (the lower the better) commercial buildings (store/restaurant) that can be bought cheap and refurbished to current standards (providing you can get commercial contractors to go there and work), then held and rented seems like a decent prospect.

This is typically frowned upon for SBA but is technically permissible as long as the unsecured lines payments can be made through outside income, I.e the spouses salary, investment real estate cash flow, etc.The big danger with this types of loans is many are on daily payment plans and many front load the interest.

They know just enough to be dangerous to themselves. 

To give history as to why we had an airbnb explosion (as many cities did) and at the height there were 2250 short term rentals in KCMO and only 7-8% of those were licensed and legal.

@Scott ReignsIf we spend all our savings on that down payment, would it be too dangerous to rely on no vacancy since well only have my income coming in?

I am very grateful to be part of this community.To clarify, I am in no danger of chasing their asking price.

You may not be able to get the full feel of the area with one visit.The one(s) that seem like moneymakers for you, maybe visit with no appointments two or three more times (not in the snow season) and just be a fly on the wall.Visit the grocery store parking lots and fast foods of the areas you like--see who is shopping, are their carts filled to the brim or is it small amounts of food--like they must eat out a lot.Stay in a (m)otel on the fringe of the area, eat on the restaurants the locals eat in (if they are not too dangerous).Go on line and watch their nightly local news, and read their local newspaper online.Talk to local Realtors about A, B C and D areas.Get the Feel for the place, for instance doing business in Chicago (in my opinion) is like falling off a log vs doing business in some other mid-western areas (the locals seem to make it easy and have good attitudes).Other areas the local governments make everything a PITA, with this inspection and that inspection, and local rules and regs as well as eviction feet dragging.