An HA in central NC prioritizes those "homeless or living in substandard housing" and income is not a priority part of the equation.

No exceptions, and keep the kids, age, race, etc. out of the equation entirely.

heavy tax burden though.I also second the Charleston opinion of the OP ... we are heavily engaged in that market and cash flow is probably not the number one thing but it would be super SAFE and steady and there is real appreciation upside.. remember the big dollars are made in appreciation ( unless you have the means to ramp up cash flow properties and own 50 to 100 doors) if its just a few doors.. then in my mind you NEED to put appreciation in the equation for long term wealth.

We find they can usually can handle a rent increase of $30 at a time (equates to $1 a day).

The software takes the human emotion out of the equation and tenants react to it like they would getting a bank fee or credit card fee which leaves little room for the typically excuses as well as having to deal with them.

Our laundry for an 8-plex (2 bedroom units) only costs us about $160 per month in actual costs, including the use of our machines and all utilities.... which equates to about $20 per month per household.... and we don't even share the space with our tenants.

@James DeRoestI do most of my renovations in flipflopsThis is the perfect statement to illustrate the points of this thread.Being laid back should not equate to being unsafe.

In CA, it's pretty well known that a spike in usage pretty much equates a pot growing situation.Just make it hard for them to do it in peace, and get rid of them as soon as possible, is my advice.  

Overall, if you buy the duplex the rent has to be at market rent and you are not house hacking or investing as a non profit, but again I have been on both sides of this equation.

Cash flow is just a part of the equation, and a vital one at that.