But how do you find this information out so that you can pick your "optimal" choice?

Currently we are thinking of something along the lines of "While driving around, my girlfriend and I drove past your duplex located at “123 Mainstreet” and we think it is perfect for our first home.

All that to be said I don’t think either one is the wrong choice assuming your market doesn’t have capacity limits. 

It MATCHES perfectly because it's the same color with different finishes!

The Home possible program from Freddie is one of the programs that was restricted in the past due to income limits but the limits are being revised upwards which will allow more people to utilize freddie's HP to finance a 2-4 unit property with 5% down on conventional.The advantage of HP is that it has lower monthly MI, its conventional financing so not as restrictive as FHA (which can also work for 2-4 units with 3.5% down payment), HP does not require you to meet the FHA SS rule (required on 3-4 unit FHA financed properties).I've seen freddie's income limits go up about 10-20% this year for 2021 so that might allow more people who are looking to "house hack," to utilize this program.HP only allows max 2 financed or owned properties total so its a perfect for someone starting out to house hack.

If you don't have the right team on the ground in the other market, you could make a bad buying choice.

IntroductionOn 1/31/2020, I purchased my first two rental properties. One of which I just sold last week, on 5/27/2021. The following write-up is a detailed analysis on the numbers, from purchase and closing costs...

Even though I make okay money, have near perfect credit, my business is half a year old and I don't qualify for a loan.

How do I go about finding the perfect area for cash flow?

You can't get the best investment AND the perfect retirement home AND the best appreciation all at once.