The majority have evictions on their record, don't make enough income or have a lot of debt under their name.Comparing other rentals on Zillow, my asking rent is $1100 while other properties are trying to rent at $1200.

I am assuming that this means I can deduct interest paid to original lender and report the interest I received from buyer as income like Ashish mentioned? 

To fund your next deal, explore conventional loans (15-25% down), FHA loans (3.5% down for house hacking), DSCR loans (based on rental income), or HELOC/cash-out refinance if you have equity.

We’re fortunate to have an above-average income and live well below our means.This summer, we’ll be moving to Detroit (PCSing in August), and we’ve saved about $120,000 to invest in addition to having funds set aside for the home we’ll purchase in Detroit.The reason I’m posting is that I’m struggling to decide how to best allocate the $120k.

As a SFR investor for over 15 years I have been wrestling with this question in the past, because it feels like you should upgrade to "bigger".I know for sure that I would not enjoy the ownership experience that comes with a small 4F, because in Milwaukee that typically also means lower income tenants. 

There was an STR boom when many people bought homes here thinking they could have passive income, but that is not the case here as much as it is in places like Asheville (which is still seasonal, but not as much).

STR income: $170K/year with pool.

Commercial Property Rental: How viable is investing in commercial spaces for steady income?

Plus the 20%-30% more in gross revenue just goes towards utilities, furniture, etc.

This can put a significant strain on your finances and cash flowThey also often require a large down payment themselves and may have a strict repayment schedule that can be difficult to meet, especially if there are unforeseen circumstances or delays in renting the property or generating income from itIn addition, relying on this type of loan may expose you to higher financial stress and the possibility of default if you are unable to meet your loan obligationsThe final decision depends on your overall financial situation, risk tolerance, and your ability to manage the associated costs and obligations