The general consensus is:1) They have high employee turnover so often times you go to reach out to your area contact and they are no longer there and you have to jump through hoops to find someone to help you.2) They have low guest satisfaction so the reviews are bad which then hurts the units performance.3) They are slow to reach to market changes (i.e. pricing) and I have heard of some units being vacant for weeks or even months and nobody is checking up on the unit.4) Somewhat related to #2 but maintenance is lacking, placing being in general disrepair.It won't be hard to compete with them, just focus on the above areas and how you are better than them. 

He was very thorough, knowledgeable and patient. 

I will most likely just be patient, continue building equity, and waiting for the right deal, but I was listening to a podcast on this site where an investor in San Diego sold highly valued properties there and moved his equity to Ohio and his cash flow skyrocketed.

You can definitely get a good duplex with a solid tenant for low 100s or even less (I own several personally), you just have to be patient & ready when a good one to comes up. 

You roll your eyes when your patients come to you with their "online research."

They'll appear on Schedule B of the policy unless disposed of to the satisfaction of the underwriter. 

It is going to take a while to get your system down and start finding deals so just be patient and don't give up. 

I would make sure it is advertised well and try and be patient.

I know the market has heated up lately but I gotta think there are still deals to be had if you're patient enough.

If the zoning is not appropriate, and the use has not been maintained to the satisfaction of the city, then the attorney is maybe a next step.