The seller was selling to the tenant living in the property.

I'm more interested in purchasing 10 homes to have fully paid off by the time I retire, as I'm not living on the cash flow w/ current job. 

Self-Directed IRA (SDIRA) – Best Option✅ Roll over your Traditional IRA into a Self-Directed IRA (SDIRA)✅ Buy the property directly through the SDIRA (you can't personally own it)✅ All income & expenses must flow through the IRA—no personal benefit until withdrawal📌 Rules to Follow:You can’t use it as a personal residence (strictly investment)No "self-dealing" (you or family members can’t personally work on or live in the property)Loans must be non-recourse (no personal guarantees)2.

I live in the Milwaukee area and want to get started investing locally but eventually want to branch out into other cities and states.

If your able to move and live in the unit do that.  

Just a simple 499 sq ft city approved plan, single story, 1 bed/1bath/full kitchen adu with living space.

We haven't lived in the townhouse in the last 2/5 years so we would get hit with full capital gains.

Do you know anyone that lives there, or did you go to college there?

However, the units I see myself living in all barely break even on cashflow.

While I currently live outside Portland, OR, I plan to begin investing in Tennessee.