It all depends on how you measure "top."

In due diligence we measure all lots.

And that’s right, a unit under 750 sq ft is free of development impact fees (a statewide measure).

The last paragraph of a New Jersey law from 1998ftp://www.njleg.state.nj.us/19981999/A1000/861_I1.PDF6 STATEMENT 27 28 This bill would prohibit a person from connecting a sump pump, 29 cellar drain, roof leader, or area drain to a sanitary sewer system. 30 Each entity owning a sanitary sewer system would be required to 31 adopt measures prohibiting such connections and would be 32 empowered to enter upon property to find a violation and to issue a 33 summons for up to $500.00 to a violator of the prohibition.

If there was one city that was "Best" for rental investments A. we would all be buying there B. it would change as the economy and commercial, neighborhood issues do.The old rule measure twice cut once, applies here.  

"More affordable" is a perceptual term, all depends where one is measuring the Twin Cities by.

In their mind they have good drive and work ethic but when it is measured against what is actually needed it falls way short in reality.    

And 36 Other Key Financial Measures: Gallinelli, Frank: 9780071422574: Amazon.com: Books

These lenders are able to do loans for people who are credit-worthy, but don't fit the system that the credit score was made to measure (i.e. the Dave Ramsey community and young people, ha)The BEST resource for you would be to talk to a local real estate ninja who can guide you to the right lenders for this. 

The first thing I would recommend understanding is that your measure standard for downpayments should be 15%.