Live in the multi-family for a year, then move back into your own home and rent out the unit.If if not ideal, it's worth the hassle. 

While a great feature, pools aren't the only amenity that can move the needle. 

The best strategy I seem to have deployed so far was to contact all my current tenants and let them know I’d give them a cash referral fee of $250 for anyone they recommend to me that goes through the vetting process and successfully moves in.

No deal is perfect, and anyone on these forums will have different investment objectives as you, but you will typically get some things to at least think about before moving forward.

I cannot imagine that having 1 thermostat for 2 units would be possible especially once we move out and have tenants in both units. 3rd unit dilemma The 3rd unit is not finished.

@Brice Alef-Torrisi putting each property in its own LLC is usually overkill.Getting a bank account for each LLC is typically something you need to do to avoid "piercing of the LLC corporate veil" (actually depends on tax selection you made for LLC), but is also overkill.You haven't indicated how you are holding the deed for the latest property.If in your name or same LLC, you don't need a separate bank account.If in separate LLC, you can create a Master LLC, have each property LLC hire the Master LLC to manage their affairs, and just get a bank account for Master LLC.This is an opinion, not advice, so lookup CPA Frank Alcini in Troy for expert advice.

This property would be my third investment so I'm undecided on moving forward. 

Courts move super slow.

While you don't exactly validate his claim..sounds like for many it might be moving that way.Is there any city that could make it a competitive advantage? 

Another option is to split the cost based on the number of occupants in each unit but this also means you'll need to adjust the charges as tenants move in/out, so it requires more work and I wouldn't recommend it.