Hi BP Family,I am a Cyber Security Engineer by trade and I have always had a desire to become a real estate investor.

It's all about neighborhood desirability/stability. 

This is less desirable than any of the other fringe neighborhoods.

Demand has two components: 1)desire to live there, and 2)financial capacity to fullfill this desire.

You will then evaluate that on the CAP rate you desire.  

You already mentioned cash flow, and the only thing I'd add is that if you buy in a highly desirable area, then your cash flow on day one may be low, but with consistent rent increases over time could end up high ... this is VS buying in the ghetto with high cash flow on day one, but those rents rarely go up to even keep up with inflation so your cash flow diminishes over time.Then there is appreciation.

It may be a big deal to some, but what I came on this site for, I am getting; and that's knowledge and to talk to others who have my same desire.  

We have a lot of waterfront properties where I live and I am hoping I can snag something nearby the water to make it more desirable for STR's and LTR's alike.

If you can learn to pick the right tenants and the home is located in a desirable area, you may just be able to get a nice stream of income.

If she left, the unit was in reasonably good shape, and you got a new tenant quickly that is pretty desirable.