If the house hack is renting rooms within your house; tax wise likely worse because you can only depreciate the fully rental areas (bedrooms and maybe bathrooms).

But just like a lot of things, what is increasing here, could be decreasing in a few cities over.

They also like to acquire MHP with higher vacancy/ vacant pads (not sure what the industry standard is).

Sounds like you have been letting fear get in the way of taking the leap. 

@Enyo Kim meet like minded investors here:  https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/521/topics/1228757-ocre...Good Investing...

But, that aside, I’d like to initiate a discussion of where note investors feel the opportunities will lie moving forward.I’ll go first.  

i tell them all the time to find a good W2 job you like and you plan on staying with a long time. 

They didn't pay for it, so they don't take care of it like an owner.Before you make assumptions about costs based on a seller's contribution to improvements, find out what they improved? 

I'd like to engage a couple more for bids.

More like a 101 of taxation: you had a reserve of losses -> it helps when you have profits.And a tax geek addendum:I also do not see a direct link to cost segregation benefits here.