I am yet a landlord but just from a relationship perspective, a person willing to say your "discriminating" against them tells me they don't trust you as a homeowner.

Hi @Erik Pfundstein I saw that report last night as well and after review I believe that it is important that people keep in perspective that Fall River was included in the list of only 300 cities that have a population over 90,000 in the entire country.Of the 19,354 "incorporated places" in the United States only 300 of those towns/cities have a population over 90,000.The city of Fall River's average sales price was $227,900 in 2017 and in 2018 we are seeing it increase in the last 6 months:Avg.

To put that in perspective, I just bought a 10 unit in a super desirable hip area of Houston (Montrose, named one of the top 10 neighborhoods in the US) for $810k. 

The loan was only 86K however the down payment and monthly payments are intended to be the only costs I have to front from the HML lenders perspective.

When the down payment is 50k, this is a proportionally significant number.From a ROI perspective, I would like to bundle all these "startup costs" along with my down payment and closing costs into a lump sum (call it "acquisition cost") so that I can compute my cash on cash ROI.But this is in conflict with how the IRS will treat them -- as ordinary expenses.Besides not having a good picture of how my P&L is actually doing, I would like future lenders to see the higher (actual) profit, not a poor first year because of the startup costs.

After researching South Jersey and Philly I decided to shift my focus on the Trenton, NJ area because it looks as if I can get a good monthly return there (and I work in the area).

I don't think I will ever shift my portfolio outside of Toledo...I have the net worth to invest anywhere I want and STILL am buying and rehabbing foreclosed $30k properties.

So those questions will be deal dependent, but think from the seller's perspective.

I’m considering trying to get as much cash as I can, but would prefer to wait for a dip in the market with all the economic indicators signaling a potential shift.  

Going to use FHA as I plan to either live-in flip, air bnb, or house hack to live for free as I will be working as a night shift nurse in the KC, MO area.