Design Help! Railroad homes!

[Alejandro Tirso]

Hi!  I am currently in the market for properties in Hudson County, NJ.  The location is less relevant than the home style frequently found here--railroad style apartment  in small multi-fam homes.  Essentially you can have a top-bottom 2-family, which usually opens a door at the front of the unit.  You land in a "living room/bedroom" pass through maybe one or two small "living room/bedroom(s)" and usually arrive in a kitchen with a small bathroom attached.

These apartments are small.  I'm talking like ~600 sq ft small, and homes are always attached on both sides, so no room to widen.  Any creative ideas for use of space?  Most tenant-occupied homes for sale lead me to believe this market is less worried with cosmetics and more intrigued spending as little as possible to have a place to sleep.  

We are considering moving the entrance of the apt to one of the middle rooms that way you avoid passing through all the bedrooms to arrive to kitchen/bathroom.  All ideas are welcome.