Any guidance will be helpful from current investors as to what locations are ideal to start my market analysis in.I would love to connect with you all.

I would identify what you are looking for in an ideal property as well and go from there.

That was some years ago before I can program my checking account to send e-checks monthly or pay on-line. 

No thank you. when you ha e a lot of hungry people and a little food they will fight over scraps. 

And one last thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is that most mini splits aren't ideal/appropriate for heating in extremely low (below somewhere around 20F) temperatures, the specs will all list the temperature range.

If things don't work out you simply terminate your leasehold interests, but if things do work well and you enjoy working with the current owner you put yourself in an ideal position to put very favorable seller-financing in place down the road since you are the one that has been managing the building, removing his tenant headaches, and already sending him a check each month.

After your first year of owning a rental you can use the "schedule E" on your tax returns to show your rental income as well.

Ideally I would love to get a place that needs some cosmetic work done to get a bit of equity hedge.  

I'd focus on an area that you want to live and work and if that is also an area that does not have these threats, then even better, but if your ideal job is in a threat area I wouldn't pass up buying there due to the threats.Converting a house hack to a rental is relatively easy. 

Michigan) as well as your "ideal/target" deal right now.