Even with the strange times we are in, the chances of someone making an accusation randomly would be remote, IMO.

Just a few random thoughts.

Don't forget property management costs, tenant missing rent payments, potential tax assessment increases, random bad weather leaks and repairs, the list goes on. 

New to this website so I'll throw out my random newbie 2 cents and contribute.

But I would not go to just a random person who happens to be free when you walk in.

I definitely don't suggest buying any random property you find from the MLS or Zillow or any of those, even if an agent goes and looks at it for you.

Owning property + No LLC + some random dude cutting across the lawn and breaking a leg = a crap ton of PERSONAL LIABILITY.

Just picking a midwestern market at random bc it is cheap is a bad idea.

Do investors just randomly move to an affordable and investment-friendly state to house hack and then move elsewhere after a year?

(if you lower your tenant selection standards (ouch, ouch ouch) you might fill up, or if you hit a price low enough (ouch, ouch, ouch) you might fill up.Competitiveness (at a price point):    Yours: https://www.apartments.com/401-charlotte-lofts-kansas-city-mo/30xhqwg/   A Random Competitor (seems to be about the same money based on the listing) (look at that big horse out front--those things are not cheap): https://www.apartments.com/steeplechase-apartments-kansas-city-mo/6wkv66v/Maybe (maybe) try staging, maybe try siting in the staged units for walk ins during the business day, maybe try signage, maybe try rent concessions such as 18 month lease 1 month free, $250 security deposit, prorate 1st, and last in advance.