Cheap properties attract the worst crap garbage loser "tenants" (my term for them is disgusting thieves who lie their way thru life).Your strategy needs some very careful due diligence.

You are buying the property on seller-carry terms that are so attractive that the positives outweigh the negatives (this is a rare situation but nevertheless, we see it at least 4 to 5 times a year for sure).

Some factors that can affect rental rates include:Economic conditions: During economic downturns, demand for rental housing may decrease, which could lead to lower rental rates as landlords try to attract tenants.Market conditions: If there is a surplus of available rental units in a particular market, landlords may need to lower their rental rates to compete with other properties and attract tenants.Property location: Properties located in desirable areas or with desirable amenities may command higher rental rates, while properties in less desirable locations or with fewer amenities may have lower rental rates.Property condition: Well-maintained properties with modern features and finishes may be able to command higher rental rates compared to properties that are in poor condition or have outdated features.Competition from other housing options: If there are other housing options available in a particular market, such as single-family homes or apartments, this can affect the rental rates for housing units.Overall, rental rates for housing may fall for a variety of reasons, but it is difficult to predict with certainty when this may occur.

Or is it your place, is it just too downscale for the rent you are asking for it.What if the rent was $250 a month--would they still flee the area, or would they sign on the dotted like.If it's not price or product, then maybe you are attracting the wrong prospects to the place.People who eat too high on the hog---birds of a feather--sort of thing.As a New England financial consultant I'm assuming you are pretty far removed from the possible renters in this area.If the area is really tough, can you read gang graffiti and discern it from tagging?

I specifically target 10-30 unit properties because I find that they are usually too intimidating for smaller investors and are not as attractive to large multi family investors.

Endicott will probably not attract many students, no, meaning in a nutshell your rent will be lower but your turnover is almost guaranteed to be less.

What makes the BRRRR method so attractive is that you can usually buy a property much lower than market value that a bank would not likely finance and you can buy it quickly because you are using hard money which is looked at the same as cash often.

The affordable housing here tends to be in areas with less attractions and more crime.

In a C- to D type property, it is almost a given that you will have problems because of the type of tenant those properties attract. 

@Ibn Abney in both cases you mention, Oakland and NYC, both real estate markets were driven by the concentration of technology companies that came into the area with jobs, attracting the youth with better jobs.Chicago has............................. no technology companies wanting to set up shop there and the number one city in the US where people are leaving the area.Without technology companies wanting to set up shop in droves, it's a dying city in my opinion.