You’re off to a solid start by narrowing in on a price range, identifying markets, and thinking long-term.

I think we should go with B, and my wife says just call them. 

Probably because of the location is C+/B-. 

Every deal needs a repeatable process for evaluating and exiting.What to lock in:Evaluation templates (for wholesale, flip, novation, etc.)Exit decision tree: what’s your plan A, B, and C?

(SFH <$150k or Duplex/multi <200k in C neighborhoods) w cash flows and appreciationsLooking forward to learn more about:- Narrow down to a specific zip codes/neighborhoods- Experienced real estate agents with OOS clients- Inspectors who can provide detailed videos and pictures as I won't be viewing the property in person- Lenders experienced with investor friendly loans- Reliable property managers experienced with OOS investors and Section 8 rentalsAppreciate your insight and looking forward to connecting!

If you band together, starting with a Facebook group, you could exert influence on the procedures. 

You can also narrow it down by doing absentee or out of state owners with 2-3 properties in their portfolio. 

The higher the LTV your upper band goes the rate does go up on what you have borrowered so there is that, but assuming good credit the difference between 65% LTV and 70% is not that signficant. 

But if I have a $5000 mortgage on Option A and 2 $2500 mortgages on Option B and the tenants are paying the utilities, essentially, how is it that Option A would cash flow but Option B would not? 

But recently, rates have started to level out and have settled into a more narrow range (see graph below):As the graph shows, rates have stayed within that half-percentage-point since late last year.