Credit scores are highly over-rated IMO as long as they are in a decent range.

There are a lot of homes for sale it seems in the 30k-50k range.

Louis and Memphis are more reasonable in that price range.  

I would like to work around 3-5 hours a week to start outside of the EST 9-5 time range.

There are endless strategies for house hacking, and I have worked with clients ranging from single individuals up to full families, or couples with a new born.

I looking for a realtor that can help me find a studio or 1 bedroom apartment in the $600-$900 range.

Like others have said the rate varies but it has been within a very narrow range for me.

However, some inspectors are quite "thorough" and there have been many stories from landlords about a unit failing because of a pulled thread in a carpet being a "trip hazard" or a range with dirty drip pans being a fire hazard.Keep in mind that some Section 8 tenants can be quite rough on a rental property and landlords will attempt to "harden" these.  

Smaller lots, land, tough condition houses, junked single wides... etc...almost never. 

And also assumes you are comfortable with perpetually living in the 20-30% equity range.