However, due to high property costs in our local market, we have been exploring opportunities in more affordable states, including Texas, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Ohio.

Cash flow is hard to come by and I have considered looking elsewhere in more affordable states.

Quote from @Devin James: In one of our development projects, the City staff asked us to remove 40 units from our concept plan.This wasn’t requested by the City Commission at a formal hearing, it was the opinion of the staff.Our original concept already proposed fewer units than the current zoning would have allowed.Here’s what erasing 40 units means:- 40 fewer homes for buyers- Over $1M in lost profit for our team- Fewer tax dollars and impact fees that could’ve benefited the City’s infrastructure & servicesWe gotta get betterEveryone wants more affordable housing, but not everyone wants to do what it takes to achieve it we never listen to the recommending bodies. we move for city approvals and work closely. the other thing we do is keep going back to the same groups over and over and over and over every month on the same agenda and make very small reductions like 2% or 4% and that reduces and beats them down eventually they accept what you want. it's just before beating a dead horse. we keep tabling until they give us something we all agree on then we go to vote. in our city in columbus we have to get recommendations but that's our strategy. we used to come out as aggressive as possible. we typically study developments in the area and keep it very similar in terms of density. we have a track record of very controversial projects and litigation and not taking no as an answer. after a year of that haha I can tell you it's not worth it. now we are more relationship based and buying the right kinds of plots of land. if the numbers don't work on the front end don't do the development. 

I’m curious: are others who house hack buying homes they can just barely afford, or are you sticking closer to the ~30% housing rule and using house hacking income as an added bonus?

Thanks Brittany, I am ok with the risk mostly because of a health back up income.

You can tackle your scenarios pending what you have in the background working for you (debt, a helpful partner, your health, etc).

That means they are affordable for owners and investors alike and may have some appeal for growth. 

Denton County offers opportunities in suburban and college town markets, while Grayson County provides affordable entry points with cash-flow potential.

These will be markets where housing is affordable for both residents and owners.

Here’s a breakdown of some top areas:Cash Flow-Friendly NeighborhoodsWest Charlotte: Known for affordability and strong rental yields, West Charlotte offers opportunities in single-family and small multi-family properties.Gastonia: Just outside of Charlotte, Gastonia is a great spot for investors seeking cash flow.