Keeps you from taking a less then stellar applicant when you "need to fill a unit".A vacancy is a blessing compared to a bad tenant.

It's popular because its relatively easy to understand and doesn't necessarily require much capital or stellar credit.

Every one of my houses in my inventory has permits and i have a stellar reputation in the communities i operate not to mention the nationwide hundreds of clients and vendors i have worked with for nearly 15 years. 

My duplex here I did not get a stellar deal on, but due to it's location I can cash flow on it over $600/MO.

I've read you need stellar credit score, mine is 702, but I think what hurt me was my debt to income ratio.

Taxes are going up, along with capital gains; and returns in money markets, stocks, bonds aren't stellar.

The returns don't even necessarily have to be stellar.

And also: they are often underemployed, plagued by debt, have no savings, little interest in saving, and sometimes have less than stellar credit.

It would have to be a stellar area.

You can pay for recent sales individually or via subscription which might help you to gauge the reality on the street.Also, I think when starting in a new arena you dont get the same deals as veterans so you just might have to accept non stellar deals when starting out.