. - Credit score of 580 or above. (640+ will be easier)-Established credit history (I think 2 lines of credit is the minimum i.e. a credit card and car loan)-Verifiable Income -Be able to afford the housing payment AND any existing debt. 

We like the factors you mention...the sales price range is more affordable than in "SF proper."

I am guilty of jumping in and doing this stuff myself as well...but am working to cut it out to afford myself more time with family and traveling. 

Yes, Tampa has been getting pretty affordable lately.

Typically folks in the 3.5% down bucket can't afford an extra 1.75% paid out of pocket, so it's rolled into the loan balance as a standard (but technically optional) thing.

Now that the capability is there and is affordable, of course people are doing it.

As more people continue to move to Oregon, affordability will also become harder for people.With that being said, I believe that if you find a deal where the numbers on a property work for you then there will be no problem with the new laws. 

I put 3% down on a townhouse that I lived in and renovated, lived there for almost 2 years, placed tenants, and then ended up selling for about $60k profit… This townhouse was really easily affordable for me so I was able to save up down payments for additional rental condos.

He AirBnB's the main house to afford the bills and cash-flow a little.

Right now, I would love to live in a duplex, but I can really only afford 200k.