For someone to get a killer deal, someone else must give up their property at a low cost.The details are different this time, but there could be a lot of people pushed into a fire sale of properties.  

Realistic is 4-7% COC anything higher will be on paper BS with low grade tenants and the costs that come along with them.

Keep your expenses low and house hack as soon as you can.One thing I wish I did when I was younger was get into sales earlier.

I would get a couple more bids. 14K can be on the high end, 7K is the low end.

Buy SFH.Want cashflow, and you're okay with low quality tenants and difficult management?

Leeds has a diverse mixture of properties, from low-end to high-end.Here is a recent Birmingham Business Journal cover story about areas primed for growth:http://www.bizjournals.com/birmingham/print-editio...

I have to finish remodeling the upper unit (my unit) and the lower unit lease was just renewed, they're quiet, pay on time, low maintenance, been there for ten years and we just renewed.

In this case, you were right that this is unappealing; however, you missed that $1800 is very low rent for this submarket on a 3-bed unit.

There have been multiple close calls, bids that were slightly outbid, offers considered but just a touch too low. 

People were buying at a low part of the cycle.